Semiotic drive (semantics/pragmatics) is an ability and propensity to produce and interpret signals with intentional, propositional meaning, incorporating both an intent to inform and a disposition to interpret utterance as intentionally informative.
Semantics is the crucial element distinguishing the human language from music and animal vocalizations. Animal communication systems are able to generate complex vocalizations (e.g. birdsong). Animals can produce meaningful signals (e.g. vervet monkeys’ distinctive threat calls) but are limited in their productive ability.The human language, however, have the unique ability to combine such vocalisations to produce an infinite set of utterances that conveys an infinite range of concepts, from concrete to abstract.
The system of human language is not limited to only the three broad components mentioned above- Hockett has identified a total of 16 main properties of human language.
Dolphins and songbirds were once thought to have the ability to communicate arbitrary concepts; monkeys were also thought to be able to mimic arbitrary vocalisations. Detailed comparative data by experts in the field was able to prove otherwise. Comparative data is thus needed as a comprehensive discussion of language evolution (Fitch, 2005).