Research into non-human great ape language has involved teaching chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans to communicate with human beings and with each other using sign language, physical tokens, and lexigrams; see Yerkish. Some primatologists argue that the primates' use of these tools indicates their ability to use "language", although this is not consistent with some definitions of that term.
Read more about Great Ape Language: Questions in Animal Language Research, Apes That Demonstrate Understanding, Primate Use of Sign Language, Plastic Tokens, Criticisms of Primate Language Research, Great Ape Language in Fiction
Famous quotes containing the words ape and/or language:
“A book is a mirror: if an ape looks into it an apostle is hardly likely to look out.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)
“Had Dr. Johnson written his own life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given, that every man’s life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history, that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited.”
—James Boswell (1740–95)