Remember Washoe, the chimpanzee who was taught sign language? She passed away peacefully this week at the age of 42 (about an average lifespan of a chimp), leaving behind a legacy of milestones and controversies. In 1966, Beatrix and Allen Gardner from the University of Nevada began teaching the 10 month old Washoe American Sign Language. Over the years, Washoe learned about 130 words and even passed on her ASL skills to her adopted son. The experiment raised many questions, not only regarding the ability to cross-communicate with animals, but whether or not the experiment was even successful. Cognitive scientists and researchers such as Steven Pinker and Herbert Terrace believed that Washoe wasn’t engaging in conversation, but rather, reacting to unconscious, non-verbal prompts from her trainers.
The director of the Washoe project, Dr. Roger Fouts said:
Fundamental to removing ignorance and replacing it with understanding is communication. We feel that communication is the one behavior most critical for future survival. Washoe has helped replace some of our ignorance about communication with an understanding of ourselves, as well as other beings.
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