[ejk314]

I think your definition of "thinking" is a bit too narrow. Certainly, there are humans with mental conditions which prevent them from communicating with "articulate language" (autism, aphasia, etc). Yet there's little doubt that they can still "think".

Yes, there's a danger of personifying animals. But there's also a tendency for us to picture ourselves as special (Geocentrism being the obvious example).

[cristianpascu]

Indeed, thinking doesn't require speaking.

>> But there's also a tendency for us to picture ourselves as special

I get this a lot. First, there is no reason to exclude the possibility that we are indeed special. There are arguments against our exceptionality, as there are in favour. We can't dismiss that from the beginning.