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Dr Sue Savage Rumbaugh 's Language Experiment Essay

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Human beings are the highest in the order of primates, they are followed by monkeys and apes. Examples of lower primates are lemurs and bushbabies. A primate is a mammal that usually has forward-facing eyes and hands, they may also be considered social animals. The closer a primate is to ‘human capability’, the higher it is in the ranking of primates. The definition of language can be used to determine the accuracy and validity of linguist, Chomsky’s claim. Language can be verbal as well as physical. It is the way by which we communicate, it is therefore a social tool. Communication is the exchange of information. Types of communication include speech, writing, facial expressions and sign language. In this essay I will particularly focus on Dr Sue Savage-Rumbaugh’s language experiment with Kanzi the bonobo, a relative of the chimp with support from other experiments such as the Gardners research into Washoe. I will also consider the differing definitions of language to reach conclusions as well as the nature, nurture debate.

Allowing that language is defined by the ability to speak, Physiological evidence shows that humans have feature which make them specially adapted to talk. For example, human beings have a developed brain structure and a flexible tongue in order to make different sounds. On the other hand, chimpanzees and higher primates have immature vocal tracts, which are narrow. Speaking is therefore a species specific characteristic of homo sapiens. Advancements

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