Short-term acoustic modifications during dynamic vocal interactions in nonhuman primates-implications for origins of motherese

Abstract

In ethology, communication, including human language or conversation, is defi ned as the interaction between two individuals, a sender and a receiver, using a signal. The sender produces a signal that conveys information. The signal and information are transmitted through the environment and are detected by the receiver, who uses the information to help in deciding how to respond. The receiver's response affects the fi tness of both the sender and the receiver (Bradbury and Vehrencamp 1998). Information exchange is an essential component of the defi nition of animal communication. In true communication, both sender and receiver benefi t from the information exchange (e.g., Marler 1977).