An elephant named Suvarna gets engaged to her cub ‘Sudha’ in Bannerghatta National Park, 2020. | Photo credit: File photo
All living things communicate. Communication signals in the form of a trembling dance in bees convey information about the location of flowers. The recipient bees decode this information and use it to guide their behavior. Human language goes beyond broadcast: it can be used to intentionally reshape what another person is thinking or doing by modifying the message based on what we believe the other person already knows.
Intentionality requires an audience to which the signal is directed. How do we use a gesture to ask someone to do something for us? Take the example of a group at a dinner table where your goal is to be handed a bottle of water. First, make sure someone has your attention. Then you make a gesture and if he doesn’t understand you, repeat it until the water flows.
Published – 21 March 2026 08:00 IST
