Re: Koko the gorilla website

In a message dated 9/18/2000 3:23:49 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
Zhang2323@AOL.COM writes:

<<   http://www.koko.org/koko/gorilla_art/stink.html

You can see more of the site by going to either www.koko.org or
www.gorilla.org. Both lead you to the same site.

<<     This website is quite nice... got me thinking about how higher primates
 like Koko who know sign language use syntax and semantics.>>

What is especially interesting to prove a point about animals understanding
language is that Koko would make up signs for many things, or make up
compound words for signs she hadn't yet been taught, like "finger bracelet"
for "ring" and such things.

<<     IIRC I remember that - on average, albeit small -a full-grown
chimpanzee
 who knows ASL has about the same level of linguistic skills as a 3-4 year old
 human child.>>
 The one I've heard the most of is Washoe, who referred to swans as "water
birds", showing how she could classify things, as she also did with many
fruits and other animals. She was quite adept at syntax- if her teacher
signed "Tickle Washoe" she'd prepare to be tickled. If her teacher signed
"Washoe tickle" she would tickle him.

<<     "One thing foreigners, computers, & poets
 have in common is that they make
 unexpected linguistic associations." - Jasia Reichardt>>
(sidenote: I suppose that supports Chomsky?)

Anyone know anything about feral children? I know there have been 2 well
documented cases of them, but I have not come across anything yet, except
they had a lot of trouble learning language and integrating into society.

One interesting thing I learned is that humans are the only ones with speech
because of us using one tube for both breathing and food- other animals have
two separate. I'm sure almost all of you know that, but I found it new and
interesting. Another thing I found intersting is that Neandethal speech was
limited up to 30% because of the jaw structure- I don't have my source with
me (its in my locker, oops), but two or three vowels were not possible with
their jaws. It wasn't until the left hemisphere of the brain developed that
language and tools were developed- we don't know which one caused which,
kinda like the chicken and the egg question. INtersting little fun facts I
thought!

~Cathy~