While humans generally consider themselves superior to animals because of our sophisticated use of language, there are several species of animals that use language that includes many properties that humans Linguists consider it necessary to classify a communication system as a language. Opinions among linguists vary greatly as to what constitutes a language, but it is generally agreed that "A language consists of symbols that convey meaning, as well as rules for combining such symbols, which can be used to generate an infinite variety of messages". (Weiten, 2008, p. 318.) Although forms of animal communication may not be at the same level of complexity as human language, evidence shows that several animal communication methods have many of the same attributes as human language and their methods adapt to their needs. purposes to find food, warn each other of predators, and assist in mating rituals. It is erroneous reasoning to believe that because human language contains elements absent in animal communication, our language is superior to theirs. By this logic one could argue that bats are superior to humans due to their use of sonar localization, which is biologically impossible for humans. While useful and necessary for bats, sonar is an ability that is impractical for humans and therefore is not an ability that evolved in the human species. It is more likely that animal language will be exactly as complex as is needed for a given species and will evolve in the same way that human language must support the survival of each species' specific needs. However, several animal species have communication systems that include many of the same elements as human language. Two of these animals are the Gunnison prairie dog and the humpback whale which... middle of paper... it can be assumed that the elements of animal language have evolved to allow communication that facilitates the survival of each individual species, without elements not necessary for their survival and procreation. Works Cited Slobodchikoff, C.N., Perla, B.S. & Verdolin, J.L. (2009). Prairie dogs: communication and community in an animal society Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press Suzuki, R. (2006) Warbling whales speak a language of their own. Retrieved April 2, 2011, from http://www.hhmi.org/news/pdf/suzuki20060321.pdfTyack, P. (1981) Interactions between the song of Hawaiian humpback whales and nearby conspecifics. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 8(2), 105-116Weiten, W. (2008) Psychology: Themes and Variations, Wadsworth Publishing.PerrinW., Wursig B. & Thewissen, J.(2008) Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, Academic Press.