The Leonard Lopate Show

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.

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.

Has Chomsky made a comment on this experiment?

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.