Apes, Men, and Language

Fülszöveg

a Pelican Book For centuries Western man has considered himself unique in the animal world. But since Darwin, the barriers separating humans from the rest of nature have been eroding. Now scientists have succeeded in teaching language, long thought to be the crucial barrier, to chimpanzees. Washoe, a female chimpanzee, was taught Ameslan - a gestural language used by deaf people - and by the age of five she knew 160 words which she used singly and in various combinations. She is now only one of a group of chimpanzees who regularly converse with humans and one another. In Part One of Apes, Men, and Language Eugene Linden takes the reader into this fascinating world, explains how the chimps are taught and compares their language development with that of humán children. Behavioral scientists have been reluctant to grant that Washoe has actually learned language. The author believes this is because her achievements challenge their basic assumptions about man's place in the natural... Tovább

Fülszöveg

a Pelican Book For centuries Western man has considered himself unique in the animal world. But since Darwin, the barriers separating humans from the rest of nature have been eroding. Now scientists have succeeded in teaching language, long thought to be the crucial barrier, to chimpanzees. Washoe, a female chimpanzee, was taught Ameslan - a gestural language used by deaf people - and by the age of five she knew 160 words which she used singly and in various combinations. She is now only one of a group of chimpanzees who regularly converse with humans and one another. In Part One of Apes, Men, and Language Eugene Linden takes the reader into this fascinating world, explains how the chimps are taught and compares their language development with that of humán children. Behavioral scientists have been reluctant to grant that Washoe has actually learned language. The author believes this is because her achievements challenge their basic assumptions about man's place in the natural order; and, in Part Two, he discusses the subtle, complex scientific and philosophical implications of Washoe's accomplishments. This scientific revolution, he maintains, must and will radically altér man's conception of his role in the world. "What Linden says about chimps and language is fascinating"- Newsweek "An excellent book, entertainingly written, splendidly illustrated" - Washington Post Vissza