Washoe age 4

This is the third video segment in a series I am presenting on Project Washoe with which I demonstrate the great success of R.A. Gardner and B.T. Gardner as Washoe uses rule-governed and creative combinations of utterances in American Sign Langauge (ASL) with appropriate syntax and appropriate grammar.

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 less than 1%. 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
• chimpanzee
• American Sign Langauge
• ASL
• syntax
• grammar
• Comparative Psychology
• Gardner
• psychology
• anthropology
• linguistics
• primatology
• great ape
• Washoe (chimpanzee)
• Monkey
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Hominidae
• biological anthropology
• Language
• J Patrick Malone
• evolution

[christo930]

I was listening to a lecture given by a primate expert and he said that when Chimps are developing, a chemical is released that stops the brain from developing further and that theoretically, if we somehow stopped the release of that chemical, a chimp could be born with human intelligence. Obviously there would be huge ethical problems with an experiment like this, but would you guess the gov might have done it?

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@christo930 Could you possibly pass along the name of this "primate expert"? I would wish to get a better understanding of this "theoretical" perspective as I have worked in neurogenetics and the biological aspects of psychology, particularly developmental, and know of no particular chemical within the brain with such implications...

[Navlek79]

ameslan will only work with hands, not paws right?

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@Navlek79 That is essentially correct. Apes (like us) have hands with finger nails and a great ability to move each finger independently. Monkeys have claws on the ends of their fingers (like dogs), and have difficulty moving their fingers independently. Because of this, sign languages such as ASL (ameslan) cannot be "trained" in monkeys and other animals, but through simple gestures and body language they can still express a great deal.

[Navlek79]

@PhD4NonhumanPrimates i'm also watching koko and michael the gorilla. koko is also doing ameslan right?

[PhD4NonhumanPrimates]

@Navlek79 Yes ... gorillas have somewhat smaller thumbs compared to chimpanzees so they alter the signs a little, but it is essentially the same.

[adonalmao]

i like when the chimp falls over at 3:45

[lisacs83]

Good me!

[MegaAstrodude]

Beatrice Gardner did some exceptional work with her husband Allen. I think history has more than vindicated their work with Washoe.

[christo930]

@PhD4NonhumanPrimates I initially found a short clip from fora tv or journeymanpictures (but I'm pretty sure it was foratv)on youtube and then the full lecture was on their website. I am sorry, I don't recall the guy's name.

[flanders243]

i just finished next of kin, an inspiring and heart breaking book.

really opened my eyes

[PumaPardus]

Thank you so much for posting this, and the other video of Washoe and friends! I read Dr. Fouts' book "Next of Kin" several years ago, and it has become a "close companion" book that I love to take everywhere with me. I have been intrigued with Project Washoe for years now, and am so happy to finally see some video footage of her signing. I was deeply saddened by the news of her passing. The whole concept of Project Washoe fascinates me, and I am thrilled to finally see her signing in action!

[SuperMusicAngel]

You ought to read Next of Kin, it's an important extension.