Answers for the Teacher Only

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What Do You Think?

Animals communicate in numerous ways. Some vocalize, such as whales, birds, or frogs. Some move in special ways, such as bees performing the dance that tells the location of honey. But are these communications language? A language is generally taken to mean a system of sounds or written symbols that can express thoughts, feelings, and meaning. So far, scientists have not found evidence in other animals of any such system of communication.

Incidentally, a new language—Klingon—was invented for the science fiction program Star Trek. Klingon is complete with vocabulary, a system of grammar, and characteristic inflections.