“Talking” with Animals: Zoosemiotics Explained

Sebeok, Thomas A.; Maran, Timo; Martinelli, Dario; Turovski, Aleksei

doi:10.1515/9783110253436.87

Cited by 20 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…As such, living in total isolation is an impossibility since all species must coexist and share ecosystems on certain terms. For that, “animals must have additional codeswitching capabilities, an interspecific communication system” (Sebeok 1990 : 106). By ‘codeswitching’, Sebeok is implying the capacity to change from one code to another, where ‘code’ means a set of rules through which messages can be converted from a given sort of representation to a different one.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The variety of channels used to transmit messages is constrained by environmental conditions and the adaptation context of a species, but perhaps even more importantly, it is also constrained by the specific sensorium of the animal (Sebeok 1990 , 2001 ). The sensory apparatus is what dictates the shapes of signs that the biological makeup of an animal is able to interpret.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Semiotics is, as has been pointed out by Sebeok ( 2001 : 27–28), “classifiable as that pivotal branch of an integrated science of communication to which its character as a methodical inquiry into the nature and constitution of codes provides an indispensable counterpoint” (Sebeok, 2001 : 27–28). Given the nature of the present study, the works of Sebeok ( 1967 , 1990 , 2001 ) were used as the main methodological guide. Therefore, the focus here is on codes, signs, and processes of signification that would underlie the possible communication between humans and stingless bees.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As put by Sebeok ( 1990 :107), How man and animals communicate with one another poses all sorts of interesting problems which require a great deal more study. Man may encounter animals under a wide variety of circumstances that make it necessary for each party to learn – even if never entirely master – the essential elements of the other’s code.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Man may encounter animals under a wide variety of circumstances that make it necessary for each party to learn – even if never entirely master – the essential elements of the other’s code. (Sebeok, 1990 : 107)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Semiotically Mediated Human-Bee Communication in the Practice of Brazilian Meliponiculture

Piva

2022

Biosemiotics

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Stingless bees are among the most dominant pollinators in the south tropics. As such, the rational beekeeping of stingless bee species, called meliponiculture, is an ancient and relevant activity, related to sustainable agricultural development, and which connects traditional knowledge to innovation and novelty. Given the relevance of this topic, this paper discusses the possibilities of a semiotically mediated communication between humans and Meliponini (stingless bees). Zoosemiotics, as the studies of animal views of the world, is the ideal modelling system for the investigation of the possibilities of mutual understanding between these two species. Starting from the premise that, for there to be inter-specific communication, there must be a shared code, and that this depends on the biological makeup and sensory apparatus of both organisms involved in the communication process, this research suggests that a possible way to communicate with stingless bees is with the use of olfactory (chemical) signals, since this channel seems to be common to both humans and bees. Considering that for human-animal relations one party must be able to recognize the other (iconic learning), it is revealed that chemical signals do allow bees to recognize individual humans, even going so far as profiling this person as ‘not a threat’. Finally, bees are seen to act cooperatively while the beekeeper is taking action to protect and maintain the nest, something that can be interpreted as an opening of semiotic relations, where the bees are deeming the beekeeper as part of their social group. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12304-022-09519-2.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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