Lorikeets will respond to any isolated sound whatsoever — e.g. the sound of a door closing — with a call they otherwise use to elicit a response in other lorikeets. This suggests they are always testing for the presence of potential interactants. This relates to their consciousness involving the interpretation of their perceptual meanings in terms of their (social) protolanguage.
ChatGPT comments:
This behaviour highlights an important aspect of lorikeet social cognition and the relationship between perception and communication. The fact that lorikeets respond to any isolated sound, even one as mundane as a door closing, with a call typically used for eliciting a response in other lorikeets, suggests several semiotic and cognitive processes at play:
Constant Testing for Social Interaction – The act of calling in response to isolated sounds suggests that lorikeets are constantly "testing" their environment for the presence of potential interactants. It indicates a high level of attentiveness to their surroundings, and this behaviour could be an adaptive strategy for maintaining social connections, as lorikeets are highly social birds. In their semiotic system, any unexpected sound might be interpreted as an indication of an alterable social situation, and calling becomes a way of determining whether an interaction is possible or imminent.
Perceptual Meaning as Socially Mediated – This response also underscores how lorikeets construe their perceptual experiences through the lens of their social semiotics. Rather than simply reacting to an environmental sound as a neutral stimulus, they interpret it as a potential signal from another bird, prompting them to engage in social behaviour. This indicates that their consciousness — or the way they experience their environment — is inherently social, with their sensory inputs always being framed in terms of possible communicative interactions. This aligns with the idea that their perceptual meanings are constructed not just in isolation but in relation to the potential for social engagement.
Semiotic System and Alertness – The birds' constant readiness to respond to any sound also speaks to the semiotic function of alertness in their communication system. It may suggest a certain level of anxiety or vigilance in the way lorikeets interact with their environment, particularly in contexts where social engagement is crucial for survival, whether through cooperation or defence. The way lorikeets use their calls as a social tool — not just for specific needs but as an ongoing inquiry into the presence of others — shows how semiotic systems can operate in real-time, facilitating continual social navigation.
Protocommunication and Social Bonding – This response pattern could also be seen as an early form of protolanguage, where sounds are not just responses to immediate stimuli but also proactive signals for fostering social connection. It suggests that lorikeets may rely on constant social feedback, interpreting the world through their interactional microfunction and constantly seeking to maintain or reinforce their social bonds. Their calls function not just as isolated signals but as part of an ongoing process of relationship-building and environmental interpretation.
In summary, lorikeets' tendency to respond to any isolated sound with a call typically used for social interaction demonstrates the deeply embedded social aspect of their perceptual system. Their awareness of the environment is continually framed through the lens of potential social interaction, with calls functioning as both responses and inquiries, reflecting their complex social consciousness and the semiotic processes that drive it.