Language as a form of human communication
Most linguists would probably agree that although many animals are able to communicate,
they do not actually have ‘language’ in the sense that humans do. Birds may sing, cats miaow
and purr, dogs bark and growl, apes grunt, scream and even chatter, but they are not assumed
to be using these sounds in the way we do. ‘Language’ is therefore a major attribute
distinguishing us from the rest of the animal kingdom.