--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a linguistics professor who said…" description: "\"I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet.That may be. But I thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/jeff-stilson-49610_ability_i-had-a-linguistics-professor-who-said-t_2439583.jpg" --- # I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's… ![“I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet.That may be. But I think there's one other thing that separates us from animals. We aren't afraid of vaccuum cleaners.” quote by Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/jeff-stilson-49610_ability_i-had-a-linguistics-professor-who-said-t_2439583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/jeff-stilson-49610_ability_i-had-a-linguistics-professor-who-said-t_2439583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/jeff-stilson-49610_ability_i-had-a-linguistics-professor-who-said-t_2439583.jpg) > “I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet.That may be. But I think there's one other thing that separates us from animals. We aren't afraid of vaccuum cleaners.” [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human dominance stems not just from language but also from overcoming fear of unfamiliar technology. **In simple terms:** We dominate because we use language and face new tech without panic. Key Takeaway Embrace new tools without fear. Themes technology human nature dominance Mood curious optimistic Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - adopting AI - using new appliances - learning foreign languages - handling automation Key Concepts cognitive adaptation fear response communication Questions to Reflect On - What technologies do you avoid? - How can fear of the unknown be reduced? A Different Perspective Fear of novelty can still limit progress in some societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Cleaners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleaners/) [Dominant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominant/) [Dominant Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominant-species-476230/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Linguistics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/linguistics/) [Man Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-ability/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Professors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professors/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-planet-476231/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/i-had-a-linguistics-professor-who-said-that-it-s-man-s-ability-to-use/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) > [About two million years ago, man appeared. He has become the dominant species on the earth. All other living things, animal and plant, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wald/about-two-million-years-ago-man-appeared-he-has-become-the-dominant/) [George Wald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wald/) > [“The small alien walked past the car. “CO2 level up 0.5 percent,” it rasped, giving him a meaningful look. “You do know you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-small-alien-walked-past-the-car-co2-level-up-0-5-percent-it/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You do know you could find yourself charged with being a dominant species while under the influence of impulse-driven consumerism, don't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-do-know-you-could-find-yourself-charged-with-being-a-dominant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“One species on the planet, and one species only, has reached the point of being able to have an impact on the evolutionary fortunes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/one-species-on-the-planet-and-one-species-only-has-reached-the-point/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [The fate of the vast majority of species on this planet has been extinction, eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/the-fate-of-the-vast-majority-of-species-on-this-planet-has-been/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Our loyalties are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/our-loyalties-are-to-the-species-and-the-planet-we-speak-for-earth/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [All other species on this planet are gene machines only. They don't imitate at all well; we alone are gene machines and meme machines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/all-other-species-on-this-planet-are-gene-machines-only-they-don-t/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [We are the only species on the planet without full employment. Brilliant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-are-the-only-species-on-the-planet-without-full-employment/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [To survive as a species on this planet, we're going to have to see ourselves as Earthlings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/to-survive-as-a-species-on-this-planet-we-re-going-to-have-to-see/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [The fate of hundreds of thousands of species on this planet may be decided in the next decade. To slow the rush to extinction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eban-goodstein/the-fate-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-species-on-this-planet-may-be/) [Eban Goodstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eban-goodstein/) > [I absolutely believe the species, the planet and the Universe can't survive if we function on hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/i-absolutely-believe-the-species-the-planet-and-the-universe-can-t/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [They've destroyed their environment, by and large. They've eliminated most other species on the planet, which is just an indication of their sloppiness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/they-ve-destroyed-their-environment-by-and-large-they-ve-eliminated/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We are the only species on this planet without full employment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/we-are-the-only-species-on-this-planet-without-full-employment/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [We have intelligent species on our planet that we are not even trying to communicate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/we-have-intelligent-species-on-our-planet-that-we-are-not-even-trying/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) ## More by Jeff Stilson > [I'm not married. I hope to be someday so I can stop exercising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/i-m-not-married-i-hope-to-be-someday-so-i-can-stop-exercising/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) > [Women are more verbal than men. That's why when you see an elderly couple together, it's always the man who has the hearing aid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/women-are-more-verbal-than-men-that-s-why-when-you-see-an-elderly/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) > [I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/i-had-a-linguistics-professor-who-said-that-it-s-man-s-ability-to-use/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) > [There's only one thing that separates us from animals: We aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/there-s-only-one-thing-that-separates-us-from-animals-we-aren-t/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) > [I don't watch football anymore, I gave that up. I got tired of the interviews after the games, because the winning players always give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/i-don-t-watch-football-anymore-i-gave-that-up-i-got-tired-of-the/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) > [Yeah, we were in the game, until Jesus made me fumble. He hates our team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-stilson/yeah-we-were-in-the-game-until-jesus-made-me-fumble-he-hates-our-team/) [Jeff Stilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) [Explore all 7 Jeff Stilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-stilson/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had a linguistics professor who said that it's man's ability to use language that makes him the dominant species on the planet.That may be. 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