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... an learn new techniques of hunting through experimentation, and also through to see what techniques are more successful. Louis Herman, a dolphin language researcher, taught two dolphins artificial languages. One was taught an acoustical language made of computer-generated sounds, while the other was taught a language in a series of gestures.
The signals of these languages represent objects, object modifiers, or actions. Neither the gestures nor the sounds resemble the object or relational terms to which they refer (Walter internet). The languages also use simple grammar rules, where the word order effects the meaning of the sentence; thus, showing the learned capacity to comprehend sentence structure. The dolphin that was taught the acoustical language was taught a straightforward left to right grammar; and the other dolphin was taught in the opposite manner, requiring it to view an entire gestured sequence before it can be interpreted correctly. Both dolphins have learned about fifty words, allowing more than a thousand different sentences. In the past ten years language researchers, like Louis Herman and Ken Martin, have shown that dolphins have the cognitive skills to understand simple language, including concepts such as direction and basic rules governing the sequence of words.
It is said that recently dolphins have started to talk back (Collar 52 - 53). It is has been definitely proven that dolphins are speaking to each other by means of local dialects that they learned during their childhood. Researchers still dont know what they are saying but one fact is for sure; their language is able to carry meaning and abstract information and could even be more sophisticated and efficient than any human language except Chinese (Pryor internet). Dolphins have been trained to entertain humans for thousands of years. Training takes about two to three years to complete, and are usually trained by using props. They can be trained to jump through hoops, flip, tow trainers around, and many more amazing tricks.
Dolphins memory capacity matches that of our own. They can follow extremely complicated directions, through both visual and auditory commands (Sea World internet). Dolphins are always communicating with each other. They communicate with each other through beats of sound at high frequencies. Dolphins have their own signature whistle, which identifies them like a name. Dolphins can call each others name by imitating another's whistle.
These signature whistles are distinguished from the whistles of other dolphins by its distinctive frequency variation over time. Calves seem to develop their own signature whistles between two months and a year. These whistles remain unchanged for up to twelve years or through their whole life. Psychologist James Ralston and computer specialist Humphrey Williams discovered that signature whistles can covey more than just a dolphins identity has discovered it. By comparing sonograms of the signature whistles during usual social activities and stressful situations, they found that although keeping its original configuration, a signature whistle might change in pitch and duration, relaying information about the emotional state of the dolphin (Walter internet).
Dolphins appear to use whistles to maintain contact, when socializing and meeting other dolphin groups, and maybe to coordinate school activities, because whistles are usually heard when groups change an activity or direction. In addition to using whistles, dolphins also use sonar, a form of echolocation that enables them to see far distances underwater. By making clicking sounds that travel through the water they are able to locate objects, and other animals. By listening carefully to the sounds that bounce back at them, the dolphins can detect objects that are too far away to be seen or things buried. Using their echolocation, they can see right through the sand and hunt fish with excellence. Humans and dolphins have always held an extraordinary attraction in one another.
For those who have encountered dolphins in the wild, many are left with a sense that they have shared a special connection / bond with them. Many encounters with dolphins are depended on for a way of life. For example, Australian Aboriginal tribes depend on dolphins to help them fish. The Aborigines would clap their hands under the water signaling the dolphins that they are ready for them to round up the school of fish.
The dolphins round up the fish and drive them towards the shore so the Aborigines can catch them in their nets. Communications between humans and dolphins have gone on in ancient times. But the significance of this communication is that the dolphins do this for no rewarded in any way and are volunteering to come in and herd the fish (Nature video). One of the most extraordinary accounts of a wild dolphin seeking human friendship is the story of OPO. OPO was orphaned on the New Zealand Opononi beach. She started approaching people in the water at the beach.
She loved the children and would swim between their legs and allow them to play with her. She would even willingly swim and take them for rides on her back. Another great example of a human and dolphin relation ship is that of JoJo and Dean Bernelle. JoJo, an orphaned bottlenose dolphin, sought out the friendship of a human. So Bernelle and JoJo have had a ten-year relationship and they seemed to understand one another. The significance of this is that it was Jo Jos idea to seek human companionship with a human.
Another account of a dolphin and human communication is that of Robin Williams and Stubby. Stubby is a spotted dolphin that lived in the Bahamas. Williams swam with a group of spotted dolphins in the wild, and one member of the group, Stubby, left the group to swim with Williams. They swam together and enjoyed each others company, Its like being in the presence of someone wise, someone whos seen it all, who has seen years of life in the ocean, a lot of hard times and good times and survived it all. (In the Wild video). Williams thought Stubby could detect his mood and emotions while they were swimming together. Williams encounter with the little dolphins reminded him of his son Cody, his active playing, his playful inquisitiveness, his childs energy (In the Wild video).
In a strange way I feel that for a moment with Stubby I communicated with an animal who chose to make contact (Williams Dolphins video). Another example of communication between humans and dolphins are in the experiments of Denise Housing. She has attempted to learn how dolphins communicate in the wild. She swam with a group of wild dolphins and they accepted her into their group. She swam with them as a member of the group. She mimicked their body language (nods and turns) and they responded.
The previous paragraphs have been cited scientific research, experiments, and documented data that provide evidence to prove that it is possible for dolphins and humans to communicate in a significant and meaningful way. One piece of evidence is that of JoJo and Dean Bernelle where it was Jo Jos idea to seek Bernelle's friendship for no advantage. Another example is the special bond of Stubby and Robin Williams, In a strange way I feel that for a moment with Stubby I communicated with an animal that chose to make contact for no reward. Another example of meaningful communication is that of the Aborigines fishing with the dolphins who chose to make the connection. Then the experience of Denise Herrings swim with the dolphins that had accepted her into their group, showed the relationship developed over time. Another is the story of OPO on the New Zealand Opononi beach where the young dolphin allowed children and adults to play with her.
Finally, the results of the communication research done by Louis Herman. All of these examples of man and dolphin becoming friends and working together for no advantage demonstrate that it is definitely possible for significant and meaningful communication. John Lilly M. D. dreamed of inter-species communication between man and dolphin; now technology and psychology are finally catching up to make this vision a reality. Researchers like Lilly and Louis Herman, one-day hope to learn more about the dolphins communication to reach this new beginning how the possibility of inter-species communication may develop in the future.
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