An important part of the definition of language is it’s inherent symbolic nature. Humans rely on common meanings related to words; that is, our ability to communicate is contingent on the assumption that others believe words hold the same value as ourselves. If two people were attempting to communicate about a shared threat, it would be vital that they agree on the threat’s label. Words change between languages, dialects, and regions. Understanding the language of the land is a skill that is probably often taken for granted, but imagine what life would be like without this vital ability: someone could be shouting a warning in the most efficient and eloquent manner imaginable, yet without the knowledge to translate the message, one would have little choice but to guess at it's meaning. The ability to comprehend others means little without a common language. Even the smartest people would have to slow any collaboration to a crawl as they laboriously worked out each other’s meaning. Perhaps it is not surprising that historically, wherever humanity spread, language came soon after. Humanity rose from a long line of hominids, reaching back several million years, in an evolutionary tree that includes apes, and some other interesting relatives that are now extinct, including australopithecines, Homo habilis, and neanderthals. All of these are also examples of social creatures, much as humans are today: they live (or lived) in groups, form relationships, and rely on one another for any number of needs, large and small. What separates modern humans from the rest of the social primates is the physical ability to produce a wide range of controlled vocal noises, and the mental ability to build and understand complex language. As h... ... middle of paper ... ...“uses the keyboard to say where he wants to go, what he wants to eat and what games he wants to play.” (Eckholm, 1985) In the morning, Kanzi sometimes is played tapes that show objects next to their lexigram symbol. Dr. Savage-Rumbaugh, who leads the project and even sleeps with Kanzi most nights, believes this medium has taught Kanzi more new words. She has been dedicated to Kanzi’s development for decades, and believes that her work with Kanzi is pushing the boundaries of previous definitions of what separates humans from other apes. It is becoming increasingly clear that those scientists who wish to develop theoretical perspectives regarding the limits of ape cognition - while remaining outside the circle of insights that arise upon authentic cultural engagement - must now justify the means by which they may assert such intellectual privilege. (Savage-Rumbaugh)
This article, titled Common Ground, written by Barbara Smuts, points out the main differences between humans and apes, such as our upright stance, large brains, and capacity for spoken language and abstract reasoning. However, the main point of this article is to emphasize the many similarities that apes share with us. Smuts goes into great detail about how human social and emotional tendencies are very reflective in the family of apes.
While there are noticeable by differences in social conduct between these two primates, I argue that they are extra of similar behaviors than most books have suggested. This book portrays several reasons that modern views of bonobo and chimpanzee cultures may not harmonize well with ground data. Bonobos are derived since their behavior has been defined lately than that of chimpanzees, and the likelihood that explanations of bonobo-chimpanzee differences are echoes of human male-female alterations.
Every few years, Hollywood releases a new Planet of the Ape movie, which is always a blockbuster hit. Moviegoers flock to see these movies of how apes rise together and how they are actually more intelligent than meets the eye. Most people do not know the premise behind these movies of how smart and closely related apes are to humans. This is because people probably have never taken a physical anthropology class and have not done research on apes –our closet kins. Known for his immense studies in the fields of apes and monkeys, his long term research in the behavior of chimpanzees and mountain gorillas, and his experience in the forests with the apes, the co-director of the Jane Goodall Research Center and writer of our textbook, primatologist
She took this time to recover from a failed marriage and the death of her late husband. She went back to Africa and was greatly saddened by all the harmful pesticides that people were using all around the world. She used her own healing time to study and actually understand inside of a chimp’s head. Her notes suggest that chimps and humans are very much alike. A human’s brain is more complex and can have a greater mind and thinking way beyond the average primate. She concluded while a human can ask further questions about the past, present, and future; chimps let their instincts come over. This explains why chimpanzees are very territorial and aggressive. Her findings also lead to that humans are forever revolving and chimps are not. Aside from her observations, she also unveiled the importance of the idea of conservation and animals’ rights. Goodall keeps pushing for humans to care for their world, wildlife, and themselves. (Editors)
In primates such as chimpanzees it is imperative to look at their culture to understand their intelligence. Culture in this circumstance means a specific set of behaviors obtained through learning in a population/species. Chimpanzee’s intelligence is quite unique how they interact with their environment and use it to their benefit just like humans. They have the ability to overcome the obstacles of everyday life through learning and the ability to use tools to create a better quality of life. The complexity of their intellect is different from any other animal ever seen. A significant part of chimpanzee intelligence that sets them apart from other primates and puts them closer to humans is the way they exhibit social learning within their culture and interactions within their environment.
Our earliest ancestors are primates. They are our closest relatives which is why we can see our behavior’s and practices in them. If we observe them we can get a better understanding of them and us, human beings. But unfortunately we all don’t get the chance to see a Primate right in our backdoor. So the best thing I could do for my observation was to visit them at the zoo.
Cohen, Jon. "Thinking Like A Chimpanzee." Smithsonian 41.5 (2010): 50. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
It has been believed that culture is unique to humans and no other groups of animals have culture, but recent evidence refutes this ideology. Before getting into the meat of the argument, it is important to first address the issues regarding the ambiguity of the term, “culture.” What is culture? Many scientists may argue that culture is the way of life for a group of individuals, this definition includes the values, beliefs and traditions of the group (Sapolsky, 2006). Other scientists may argue that culture is the transmission of habits and information by social means (Sapolsky, 2006). Despite the different specifics of what culture is, almost all scientists would agree that culture is transmitted socially through social learning that promotes the transfer of information between members in a group (Boesch and Tomasello, 1998). Based on these notions of culture, it can be justifiably stated that primates have culture. Primates exhibit food preparation techniques, use of tools, communication skills, and most importantly, behaviors of social learning. An exemplar of primates’ capabilities for culture is Koko, the lowland gorilla. Koko, in captivity, was able to learn American sign language, demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to deceive.
Suzanne K. Langer, the author of “Language and Thought” states that “the birth of language is the dawn of humanity” (120). The “dawn of humanity” refers to the beginning of time, the beginning of life, the beginning of society, and we, as people need language to survive every day in civilization. Humans haven’t always had the glory of language. Millions of years ago, science has proven that we have evolved from chimpanzees because of our fairly similar DNA. We have similar facial structure, body language, and protective instincts; although language is what defines us as human and what allows us to become individuals. However, the challenges we would face to grow a relationship in our modern society would become increasingly difficult because
In this example, two primates were placed behind either a transparent or an opaque screen. Between these screens was a banana and I learned how a primate reacted when approached with the option if he should go for the banana when put against a dominant primate. I was impressed that they didn’t engage in a brawl over the banana, but instead used thought in regard to hierarchy. This to me, without doubt, proves once more that primates are able to produce complex behaviors that relate to humans. Thinking like this insinuates that primates as well as creatures other than humans have the ability of using
Reaching into Thought: The Minds of the Great Apes, ed. A. E. Russon, K. A. Bard & S. T. Parker, pp. 257–77. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Temple Grandin uses many metaphors to explain her way of thinking. She uses terms like “web browser,” “tape recorder,” and “computer.” She says, “I hypothesize that the frontal cortex of my brain is the operator and the rest of my brain is the computer” (Grandin 404). This is the perfect example of her
It has long been debated whether or not humans are the only species that have evolved and are advanced enough to cultivate a complex language system. While it has been argued that other species do indeed have their own inherent methods of communication, none so far have exhibited sign of a language system as complex and structural as that of humans. Apes have exhibited their own method of language through ‘call systems,’ a limited number of sounds produced when certain stimuli are encountered. But while they are capable of their own language, it is another question entirely of whether they are capable of human language, which is characterized by its inherent qualities of displacement, arbitrariness, productivity, discreteness, duality and cultural transmission (Nature of Language, p. 17-18).
One obvious reason is interaction with other languages. If one tribe of people trades with another, they will pick up specific words and phrases for trade objects,for example.
Wilford, John N. "Evidence of Chimps' Intelligence Grows." The New York Times. N.p., 18 Apr. 2007. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. .