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pleco
SFN Addict
USA
2998 Posts |
 Posted - 11/01/2007 : 11:41:47
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Source
Washoe, a female chimpanzee said to be the first non-human to acquire human language, has died of natural causes at the research institute where she was kept.
Washoe, who first learned a bit of American Sign Language in a research project in Nevada, had been living on Central Washington University's Ellensburg campus since 1980. Her keepers said she had a vocabulary of about 250 words, although critics contended Washoe and some other primates learned to imitate sign language, but did not develop true language skills.
Washoe also taught sign language to three younger chimps who remain at the institute, Central Washington spokeswoman Becky Watson said. They are Tatu, 31, Loulis, 29, and Dar, 31.
But there was controversy over whether the chimp was really using ASL. Among those who doubted chimps could use language were MIT linguist Noam Chomsky and Harvard scientist Steven Pinker.
Chomsky contended that the neural requirements for language developed in humans after the evolutionary split between humans and primates. Pinker argued that primates simply learn to perform certain acts in order to receive rewards, and do not acquire true language.
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by Filthy
The neo-con methane machine will soon be running at full fart. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26031 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2007 : 17:56:47 [Permalink]
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The argument, if I remember correctly, is that primates like Washoe and Koko learned words, but not grammar. And using words without a grammar isn't true language use.
Washoe would make the toothbrush sign when she saw her toothbrush. If I said, "ball," my dog would go get his favorite ball and bring it to me. I've never been particularly impressed by such identifications. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Chippewa
SFN Regular
USA
1496 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2007 : 18:25:48 [Permalink]
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| There is that story, if I recall correctly from Carl Sagan's book "The Demon Haunted World" of the two old chimps remaining at a research facility soon to be closed and a former researcher returning to visit friends there. He noticed and recognized the chimps. When he approached their enclosure he decided to sign a greeting and ask what they want, (presuming food). One chimp pointed at the gate and the other signed: "key". |
Diversity, independence, innovation and imagination are progressive concepts ultimately alien to the conservative mind.
"TAX AND SPEND" IS GOOD! (TAX: Wealthy corporations who won't go poor even after taxes. SPEND: On public works programs, education, the environment, improvements.) |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2007 : 19:42:48 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Chippewa
There is that story, if I recall correctly from Carl Sagan's book "The Demon Haunted World" of the two old chimps remaining at a research facility soon to be closed and a former researcher returning to visit friends there. He noticed and recognized the chimps. When he approached their enclosure he decided to sign a greeting and ask what they want, (presuming food). One chimp pointed at the gate and the other signed: "key".
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That's sad!
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2007 : 20:29:22 [Permalink]
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| Where's Slater when we need him? |
"We are all connected; to each other biologically, to the earth chemically, to the rest of the universe atomically."
"So you're made of detritus [from exploded stars]. Get over it. Or better yet, celebrate it. After all, what nobler thought can one cherish than that the universe lives within us all?"
-Neil DeGrasse Tyson |
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Sign language chimp dies
