Do Now: What is the ultimate form of communication?

Defines language as a skill limited to humans

Possess the cognitive hardware which makes language possible

Neural requirements for language developed after the evolutionary split between humans and primates

Primates can be trained to do many things

Trained behaviors do not signify language ability

He believes the primates simply ‘press certain buttons’ to receive rewards

Language was initially dependent on contextual clues

Could eventually respond to novel commands

Not proof of language because crucial element in language ability is production, not comprehension

Most advanced primate system of communication

Sounds produced are instinctive and not learned

Respond differently to different alarm calls

Robert Yerkes - inability to acquire verbal language because primates not inclined to imitation of sounds

The vocal cords of primates are not capable of supporting the production of language

Learned “more” in relation to tickling but was able to apply it to other situations

Could combine signs Similar to ability of human children to

connect words in sentences to which they have never been exposed

No sign language used in first 5 years Acquired signs by watching other chimps Little active teaching Reflects the manner in which human

children acquire language

Raised Nim like a human child Demonstrated use of arbitrary symbols to

represent physical actions Used signs “angry” and “bite” to express

displeasure Decided Nim incapable of combining

words to create novel ideas

Chimps use one sign to refer to general categories

Similar to children Able to create novel signs to convey a

metaphorically different concept

Many animals can receive signal Predators Conspecific interactions

Dishonest signaling

Arises because of constraints on the signal reception and processing machinery

Testosterone important Manipulate conspecifics

Detect electricity “see prey”

Produce electricity Electric eels Smaller river fish

Live in muddy water Active at night

Sense minute changes in these electric fields, the fields of other electric fish, and the weak fields produced by all living things

Can determine Size Sex Maturity Identity (Possibly)

Limited to about ½ a body length Serves dominance hierarchy

Dominant male at extreme high or low frequency

Dominant female at other extreme Electric fish can change frequency and

will challenge dominance by doing so