animals and human language ANIMALS AND HUMAN LANGUAGE | Page 15

Using language
Important lessons have been learned from attempts to
teach chimpanzees how to use
forms of language. We have answered some questions.
Were Washoe and Kanzi
capable of taking part in interaction with humans by
using a symbol system chosen
by humans and not chimpanzees? The answer is
clearly “Yes.” Did Washoe and Kanzi
go on to perform linguistically on a level comparable to
a human child about to begin
pre-school? The answer is just as clearly “No.” In
arriving at these answers, we have
also had to face the fact that, even with our list of key
properties, we still don’t seem to
have a non-controversial definition of what counts as
“using language.”