innate/unique?

[DPAT at CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU]

Hello all, I usually just follow these discussions silently...but I have
to comment on this one.  I have often gotten the impression that when
linguists talk about a linguistic ability as "innate", that they are also
implying that the ability is unique to humans.  I certainly think there
is a lot that humans do that is unique.  However, I don't think
the uniqueness follows from the innateness.  I have seen evidence
that other species (not just mammals) have sound systems that
might be best explained by appealing to phonetic and phonological
devices that hitherto have been treated as if they were unique to
humans.  I'd love to get some feedback on how others view this
uniqueness/innateness relationship.
Thanks
Dianne Patterson
dpat at ccit.arizona.edu