Cracking the code: a comparative approach to plant communication

ABSTRACT

The linguistic behavior of humans is usually considered the point of reference for studying the origin and evolution of language. As commonly defined, language is a form of communication between human beings; many have argued that it is unique to humans as there is no apparent equivalent for it in non-human organisms. How language is used as a means of communication is examined in this essay from a biological perspective positing that it is effectively and meaningfully used by non-human organisms and, more specifically, by plants. We set out to draw parallels between some aspects characterizing human language and the chemical communication that occurs between plants. The essay examines the similarities in ways of communicating linked to three properties of language: its combinatorial structure, meaning-making activities and the existence of dialects. In accordance with the findings of researchers who have demonstrated that plants do indeed communicate with one another and with organisms in their environment, the essay concludes with the appeal for an interdisciplinary approach conceptualizing a broader ecological definition of language and a constructive dialogue between the biological sciences and the humanities.

KEYWORDS:

• Language
• plants
• cognition
• ecology
• plant behavior

Notes of contributions

BB, FP and UC wrote the manuscript; SG., Q.W. contributed to the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) to the Department of General Psychology (art.1, commi 314–337 legge 232/2016);Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca