The Dolphins Got the Point and Left

Pointing appears ever so natural to us. Everyone points (even though most of us feel it's rude to point at someone) and you don't need to learn it, right? As a young father of two I wonder: Could finger-pointing be innate? Well, an interesting point is raised by animal studies. Even though chimpanzees follow our gaze it seems difficult to point something out to them, contrary to dogs and wolves. Now, a study pointed out that dolphins understand pointing as well. If you have read So Long and Thanks for all the Fish it will not surprise you that dolphins understand us. The real question may well be: Why don't we understand dolphins? (with the possible exception of this guy.) Dolphins 1 - Chimps 0

Tags: gesture, pointing, animal, dolphin, mammal, perception, intention