Hints of the Symbolic Function in Animals

The focus here is on the origin of the symbolic function and its development in ontogenesis. The communication systems in animals, sensorimotor anthropoid intelligence and experimental language learning in chimpanzees are analyzed as possible antecedents of symbolic function. Semiotic analysis of communication systems in animals shows that they consist of innate forms of expression of motivational and affective states (sexual needs, threat) and as such act on other individuals alone and affect the regulation of relationships in the group. Sensorimotor intelligence does not allow the creation of an object independent of practical actions with it; it has not a status of an independent object which could function as a symbolic reference. In the experimental speech learning in chimpanzees, a certain “vocabulary” was built, and even a certain ability of independent creation of combinations of those words. But completely absent is the possibility to combine representations (mental images). In general, in evolution, communication systems cannot be taken as predecessors of semantic communication (some of those systems of affective communication exist in humans as well) or, as in the highest animals, to create symbolic reference. In speech learning experiments just some proto-symbols were achieved, which is only at the first level in the definition of the symbolic function given in Chap.  1 .