Page:  of 204
 

NOTES
1. Differences among species are real, and a comparative review of the
data on nonhuman social and semiotic behavior suggests a number of dimensions
on which such behavior appears to differ (for example, cognitive-perceptual,
methods of learning, dependence on contextual constraints). Arbitrariness
appears to be one of the more fundamental dimensions in that those other charac-
teristics appear to rest on varying degrees of arbitrariness, which is defined as the
extent to which a relationship is independent of genetic constraints.
2. I am aware that the nature of or what constitutes "reality" is the subject
of some serious philosophical discussion. In my view, there are multiple realities
-- biogenetic, cognitive, linguistic or symbolic, and so forth. I have tried to be
specific about the kind of reality to which I refer and ask the reader sophisticated
in the literature on differing views of reality to indulge my sometimes singular
use of the term.
3. The case for evolutionary foundations of social behavior is more easily
made using data gleaned from our close evolutionary relatives, the primates.
However, comparison with a broad array of species makes the argument more
pointed in that more distantly related species provide an especially good test of
conservativeness in the evolutionary process.
4. A. Whiten and R. W. Byrne ( 1988) have collated data on what they term
"tactical deception" in primates in order to explore patterns and examine func-
tional consequences of deceptive behavior. Based on this analysis, they provide a
typology of deception consisting of five major functional classes: concealment,
distraction, creating an image, manipulation of target using social tool, and
deflection of target to fall guy. The extent to which each type of deception is
suggestive of social perception abilities is considered.
5. A parallel to this case is found in the development of pidgin languages
that emerge where two or more distinct languages (and peoples) converge. D. Bickerton
( 1990), for example, observes that children are the progenitors of the
pidgin language.

-22-

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com

Publication Information: Book Title: The Meaning of "Relationship" in Interpersonal Communication. Contributors: Richard L. Conville - editor, L. Edna Rogers - editor. Publisher: Praeger. Place of Publication: Westport, CT. Publication Year: 1998. Page Number: 22.
    
This feature allows you to create and manage separate folders for your different research projects. To view markups for a different project, make that project your current project.
This feature allows you to save a link to the publication you are reading or view all the publications you have put on your bookshelf.
This feature allows you to save a link to the page you are reading, which you can later return to from Projects.
This feature allows you to highlight words or phrases on the publication page you are reading.
This feature allows you to save a note you write on the publication page you are reading.
This feature allows you to create a citation to the page you are reading that you can paste into your paper. Highlight a passage to include that passage as a quotation.
This feature allows you to save a reference to a publication you are reading for your bibliography or generate a bibliography you can paste into your paper.
This feature allows you to print the page you are reading, including your notes or highlights (IE users must have "print background colors and image" setting selected.)
This feature allows you to look up words in encyclopedia.
  About Questia Tools
Close Window  
Questia's powerful research tools allow you to highlight, take notes, bookmark and even create instant citations and bibliographies. To use these features and save hours of work, you must create a Questia account.
Need a Questia account?
Sign up for a FREE trial now. Save time, stress and hassle, and get better grades with trusted, online research.

» Click here for our free trial

Already have a Questia account? Login now!
Error
Working...
Printing Preferences
Format for black and white printer: On Off
Print highlights: On Off
Print notes: On Off
Choose one of the options for printing:
Print this page (No Charge)
Print pages to