Do Dolphins have a religion?

With our so-called high intelligence, we can't even begin to understand dolphins, could they already have a religion? Could we understand it if we could decipher their language?

Originally posted by sonhouse
With our so-called high intelligence, we can't even begin to understand dolphins, could they already have a religion? Could we understand it if we could decipher their language?

Not sure about a religion, but i believe they have a 'porpoise.'

😉

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Not sure about a religion, but i believe they have a 'porpoise.'

😉

Nice one GoD

Originally posted by sonhouse
With our so-called high intelligence, we can't even begin to understand dolphins, could they already have a religion? Could we understand it if we could decipher their language?

Lambert Dolphin's Library

http://ldolphin.org/

Originally posted by sonhouse
With our so-called high intelligence, we can't even begin to understand dolphins, could they already have a religion? Could we understand it if we could decipher their language?

On what linguistic or sociological evidence could you infer religious beliefs or religious practices among dolphins?

Originally posted by sonhouse
With our so-called high intelligence, we can't even begin to understand dolphins, could they already have a religion? Could we understand it if we could decipher their language?

Why?

You wouldn't believe it, either.

Originally posted by dominuslatrunculorum
On what linguistic or sociological evidence could you infer religious beliefs or religious practices among dolphins?

High intelligence, of course. I considered that was his reasoning too. Seems obvious.

Originally posted by Suzianne
High intelligence, of course. I considered that was his reasoning too. Seems obvious.

High intelligence is itself a sign of religion?

Originally posted by Suzianne
Why?

You wouldn't believe it, either.

A bit snippy today, eh. It would be very interesting to know regardless of my personal beliefs. One thing we are pretty sure of is they seem to have names for each other and remember each other's names even not seeing each other for years. It is very likely humans won't be able to suss out much of their language without the help of the most powerful computer's we can bring to bear on that problem. We may need to learn their language if we ever are to have a ghost of a chance of figuring out the language of any real aliens we may find if and when we ever go interstellar.

Originally posted by sonhouse
A bit snippy today, eh. It would be very interesting to know regardless of my personal beliefs. One thing we are pretty sure of is they seem to have names for each other and remember each other's names even not seeing each other for years. It is very likely humans won't be able to suss out much of their language without the help of the most powerful compu ...[text shortened]... of figuring out the language of any real aliens we may find if and when we ever go interstellar.

Knowledge of names does not imply any capacity for language. You should read Stephen Pinker's 'The Language Instinct'. Language is a very particular type of human ability that is not merely the lexicalisation of the world, but a subconscious faculty of the brain to organise signifiers according to specific parameters of a shared innate grammar. This is why animals will not be able to learn a human language. Of course, animals might have a 'language instinct' (and it might be radically different to ours) but names are a poor criterion.

Originally posted by dominuslatrunculorum
Knowledge of names does not imply any capacity for language. You should read Stephen Pinker's 'The Language Instinct'. Language is a very particular type of human ability that is not merely the lexicalisation of the world, but a subconscious faculty of the brain to organise signifiers according to specific parameters of a shared innate grammar. ...[text shortened]... language instinct' (and it might be radically different to ours) but names are a poor criterion.

i like it better when you do it in latin.

Originally posted by sonhouse
With our so-called high intelligence, we can't even begin to understand dolphins, could they already have a religion? Could we understand it if we could decipher their language?

Would be awesome to someday ask an animal who the creator is. With no type of influence from humans.

Originally posted by dominuslatrunculorum
This is why animals will not be able to learn a human language.

I believe Chimpanzees and Gorillas can learn some sign language, although the Gorilla in question apparently didn't use grammar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_(gorilla)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washoe_%28chimpanzee%29

Originally posted by twhitehead
...although the Gorilla in question apparently didn't use grammar:

Are you going to be the one to tell him?

Originally posted by stellspalfie
i like it better when you do it in latin.

Non tamen oportet quod cognitio nomina lingua facultatem sibi . Vos should read Stephanus scriptor Pinker ' Lingua Latina . Lingua est genus humanum , quod in ipso est , non alicuius mundi lexicalisation autem secundum specificas significata ordinare cerebrum subconscious facultas communis innata grammatica parametri . ... [ text breviabuntur ] ... lingua instinctus ' ( et esset aliud omnino ad nostrum ) sunt nomina, sed pauperes a criterion .