In a world where scientists are incessantly attempting to examine the intelligence of life forms other than humans, linguists have presented the idea that language in itself is reserved strictly for humans. One therefore, must attempt to solve that dilemma and come to a conclusion regarding the question is language unique to humans?
             If language is viewed solely as a system of communication, then it could be said that many differing species possess the ability to communicate. Humans also use certain systems other than language to communicate with others. The questions remains, are the kinds of grammars that represent linguistic knowledge unique to man.
             Most humans acquiring language utilize speech sounds, made up of an utterance act and illocutionary act, to express meanings, but such sounds are not necessary, which is evident by the deaf's ability to communicate through sign language (Fromkin et al., 1997). Conversely, when animals produce noises to communicate and vocally imitate human utterances, it is not the same as having the ability to communicate through language (Fromkin et al., 1997). Language is a system that relates sounds and gestures to meanings, something animals do not possess (Fromkin et al., 1997). This will further be examined when looking at linguist and anthropologist Charles Hockett's Design Features and how they define what communication must entail to qualify distinctly as a language.
             The first of Hockett's Design Features is arbitrariness (Hockett, 1958). A word like 'dog', for example, does not have a distinct meaning and sound relationship. The word 'dog' is not synonymous in all languages; while it means the same thing universally, the word used to depict it differs; 'hunt' in German, 'perro' in Spanish, and 'chien' in French. The next characteristic is duality, the fact that words have two levels, one tha...