Directory of Ape Sign Language Resources

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Language is often pointed to as the hallmark of the human species. This assertion has had many proponents into the twentieth century and it is widely held that humans differ markedly from animals in their use of language. In the past thirty years, this assertion has been the subject of many debates as scientists have researched capacity of sign language acquisition by apes. Incredible claims have been made by some researchers about the linguistic capabilities of their subjects, mostly chimpanzees. These claims have been refuted and counter-refuted many times, and the literature on the subject is extensive. Currently, there is no general consensus on the ability of non-human primates to acquire language.

Resources in This Category

• Are Nonhuman Species Capable of Language Acquisition?

  http://www.littletree.com.au/koko.htm
  A discussion of the value and validity of ape language research.

• Chimp Talk Debate: Is it Really Language?

  http://www.santafe.edu/~johnson/articles.chimp.html
  Article by George Johnson in the New York Times in which he outlines varying views on ape communication.

• Koko the Gorilla

  http://www.koko.org/
  The Gorilla Foundation brings interspecies communication to the public through Koko, famous for her sign language skills.

• Language in Apes: How Much Do They Know and How Much Should We Teach Them

  http://www.davidmswitzer.com/apelang.html
  An overview written by Dave Switzer that features a summaries of multiple research projects. Also offers primate glossary.

• Language in Child and Chimp?

  http://pubpages.unh.edu/~jel/apelang.html
  General commentary on ape language with transcripts of chats with apes and interviews with ape language researchers.

• Language Research Center

  http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwlrc/
  Primate research center studying language acquisition through work with bonobos and chimpanzees. Features a list of publications and ape biographies.

• Non-Human Primates and Language

  http://www.angelfire.com/sc2/nhplanguage/
  This project is part of a theoretical course on Syntax and Grammatical Theories taught by Prof. Dirk Geeraerts at K.U.Leuven.

• Primate Research Institute: Section of Language and Intelligence

  http://www.pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/koudou-shinkei/shikou/index.html
  Chimpanzee language research projects at Kyoto University. News, pictures and biographies of chimpanzee subjects as well as researchers.

• The Primatech Project

  http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/perception/projects/primatech/
  A cognitive model of Chantek, a signing orangutan, for an installation at Zoo Atlanta.

• The Straight Dope: Are Gorillas Using Sign Language Really Communicating with Humans?

  http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030328.html
  Cecil Adams' research column on the divided scientific opinions about apes and language.

Related Categories

• Home > Reference > Dictionaries > Sign Languages
• Home > Science > Biology > Zoology > Chordates > Mammalogy > Primatology
• Home > Society > Issues > Animal Welfare > Specific Animals > Primates

 

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