Question:
My Jr. year of high school I learded, in ancient history class, that it is belived that cromagnons, early humans, spoke with eachother, but ofcorse with a more primitive language. That step of comunication cleared the path of what we are today. We see the same form of primitive personal expression to others in chimpanzees. Would there be a way to help our fellow primates develope a more accurate way of expression allowing them to evolve we humans did? For instance, a program would teach chimpanzees American Sign Language(ASL),which they can learn over 500 different signs and also teach to one another, and teach them how to adapt to the wild.

Choices:
I think that its possible;however, I think that it is equaly as possable that the chipanzees natural instinct would mix or overcome the ASL training.

 

Possably Dr. Goodall

I've seen episodes on T.V, about A chimp that learned ASL and knew how to word it also. I think it would be better to teach a Chimp that lives in captivity how to learn sign language when they are very young, therefore you would know what the Chimp really wants from you, instead of just guessing.

It is possible to teach great apes language, but it is not evolution. It is not a physical process that is making them smarter or developing their brains, they are just using what they already posess to learn more. The idea of teaching them a language is more like cultural evolution, an advancement of chimpanzee customs. This is similar to how certain chimpanzees in certain areas use twigs to "fish" for termites and other chimpanzees in another area use rocks to crush nuts. Those both are based on the environment, the food available, and how certain individuals have learned to obtain the food; then teach it to the other members of the group. These particular customs are all ways to survive by learning how to take advantage of their environment. If you were to take a group of chimpanzees, put them in a human environment, and teach them that when they sign "food" they'll be fed, they'd learn that by doing that sign, they'll get to eat. Then they might teach it to other chimps in the area, so they can all be fed. It is likely that teaching them a new way to get food will advance them to a certain extent. Probably the Cro-magnon or even certain hominds adapted in this way. Chimpanzees will also learn just for mental stimulation, even without a reward (I saw that on "Kelli and Ivy: just like us").
This love for knowledge is another reason why chimpanzees are so like us.


Did you know that some taxonomists are thinking of grouping chimps under the genus Homo, just like humans, instead of Pan, because of these similarities. But, because physical differences, most taxonomists don't agree.

I do think that it is possiable. Chimps do have 98% of the same DNA that humans do so why shouldn't they be able to learn many things that humans have learned. It is also said that we have evolved frome apes and a chimp is an ape. I have also seen many articles proving this thery.

Yes I do belive that the chimps can learn asl but I wouldn't know if all the chimps would use it as their first source of communication. I think that they will probably use their regular language within the chimp community. But when it came to human contact then they would put the asl training to use.

I believe you can. But shouldn't it's unnatural to teach Chimps sign language and the like. They have thier own, perfect way of communicating. Teaching them sign langauge is just as bad as forcing them to perform. I thought people on this board were supposed to appreciate and respect Chimps!

well it would be interesting to know, if all the chimps in a group can commmunicate in asl, would they use that or rather use theyr own language, asl would have its advantages for them.