The Chimp Who Would Be Human
Monday, March 17, 2008
Nim Chimpsky was the subject of an experiment in the 1970s to find out whether a chimpanzee could learn American Sign Language, and thus, debunk the theory that language is unique to humans. Elizabeth Hess tell Nim’s story in Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human.
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Elizabeth Hess
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Comments [4]
I think they ought to go out into the wild and teach the chimps there sign language and see if they teach each other how to use the sign language and if they add their own gestures. And if they do all that, it'll be interesting to see how long before they start the ape revolution against the human oppressors.
Has Chomsky made a comment on this experiment?
Being able to refer to objects or persons, or needs by using sign language is not exactly anything like human's having a conversation. Has this chimp ever said, "How are you these days?" Or "What are you planning to do this weekend?"
I also studied Chomsky, and agree that language is unique to humans. I don't call using ASL in the chimp way a real use of language. You could teach the chimp to talk with his mouth, but if he couldn't have a conversation, he still would not be using language. The language would be using him.
There is a 98% similarily between the DNA of a chimpanzee and the DNA of a human being, but DNA is so long - miles and miles - that the 2% difference can make - and does make - quite a difference.
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