Washoe and the family teach Loulis to use sign language

This video segment explores the use and production of Loulis, the only non-human primate to learn a human language in the way that human children most typically do: from his mother. Further, the work of R. Allen and Beatrix T. Gardner continued with several other young chimpanzees that became Loulis adopted older siblings (Moja, Tatu, & Dar) and who helped Loulis to develop his use of American Sign Language within the social milieu.

This work meets the Fair-use Statute Section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act: 1. The purpose and character of the use is for nonprofit educational purposes. 2. The nature of the material is factual. 3. The amount and significance of the portion used in relation to the entire work is not significant. 4. The use will have no effect upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. This segment is currently important for use in my Ph.D. research as well as the high school science classes I teach.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Washoe
• Loulis
• Tatu
• Dar
• Moja
• chimpanzees
• American Sign Language
• ASL
• primate
• great ape
• evolution
• evolutionary psychology
• monkey
• comparative psychology
• linguistics
• biological anthropology
• CHCI
• J Patrick Malone
• gorilla
• Human Evolution

[xtinerox8745]

is it necessary to keep them locked up liek that?

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@xtinerox8745 Their living conditions are really great now - the video footage in this clip is fairly old. We do, however, try to keep at least 2 locks between us and them wherever possible. They are incredible lock-picks (they have a lot of time to experiment), and so we really focus on our safety and theirs, because even if just happy and wanting to hug you, they could easily crush your spine.

[Navlek79]

i love the work here. i'm still not in to the philosophical side to this ameslan taught to apes.(the philosophers and theologians) i recall carl sagan commenting about washoe on a book. but the technical side of the research is really awesome. They are still apes.

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@Navlek79 Yes! : ) They are apes just as we are, and they are wonderful in their own right! No one wants to "make a chimpanzee" into a human, but rather find out how special they really are, and then we may better look into our own mirror and discover things about ourselves that we never knew.

[Navlek79]

wow. 1979 i wasn't even born yet. so how old is Loulis? i thought washoe has already gone . are people still studying Loulis?

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@Navlek79 Loulis is alive and well! Yes, sadly we lost Washoe on October 30, 2007, but her legacy lives on through Loulis and the wonderful work at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute.

[notrickroll]

now teach em british sign language :P

[r0g3r]

@Navlek79 You are still and ape, and I don't mean that as an insult, more of a compliment.

[scottylans]

This is amazing and incredible Such fantastic work - I agree, teach them sign and release into the wild, that would be incredible.

Also, I can't help but add a Peter loves Amy reference ,......

[Beenyad]

Teach apes sign language, release them into the wild. Watch civilization unfold.

[DefeezyweeZzZy]

brought here from reading carl sagan's "dragons of eden"

[PhatLouie06]

I've recently read Next of Kin for the primate class taught by Professor Lorraine McNeil at Fanshawe, and it was SUCH an amazing read. I have been obsessed with spreading the lessons of Washoe and her family.

[salvolondon]

@PhD4NonhumanPrimates what did she die of?

[heavenspaw]

Fascinating stuff, this is. I would love a career working with chimpanzees. I simply wouldn't want to have one living with me for obvious reasons... lol