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Critique of Primate Sign Language Research Report

Analysis of primate sign language studies questioning the differentiation between natural gestures and signs, meaningfulness of novel sign combinations, and accurate interpretation of chimpanzees' sign usage.

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Critique of Primate Sign Language Research Report

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  1. Critique of Primate Sign Language Research Report: In the picture, Moja is employing the begging gesture. The caption explains that Moja is signing “come” The chimps “use sign language to communicate with each other, especially during play and when changing location Critique: The use of a single natural gesture is promoted as the use of sign language. A failure to differentiate between natural gestures and signs

  2. Critique of Primate Sign Language Research Report: the use of novel combination, e.g., Waxhoe’s signing “water bird” for swan Critique: One cannot interpret the combination as meaningful without knowing what proportion of combinations were sensible and what proportion nonsensical. Are only those double signs that appear meaningful being reported, but, in fact, are accidents of chance? Was Washoe referring to “a bird of the water” or simply signing for water and bird in succession as two responses to two stimuli?

  3. Critique of Primate Sign Language Research Report: Loulis was using signs in their correct context. He will point to an apple, signing “that” and sign “gimme” over and over again. Also, “hurry” is the most commonly used sign. Critique: “that” is a simple point and “gimme” is the beckoning gesture, both natural gestures. “Hurry” is also a natural gesture

  4. Critique of Primate Sign Language Research Report: Logs show the chimps produced many signs. Critique: My log did not show as many signs. I watched really carefully. The chimp’s hands are moving constantly. The hearing people were logging every movement the chimp made as a sign. When the chimp scratched itself, they record d it as the sign for “scratch”. If the chimp kept its arms up until they were ticked, the claim would be for the sign “more” (arms held over the head, fingers touching). But in ASL the sign for “more” is made in front of the body and the hands should have a definite shape. When chimps hold out their hands as they do in the wild, this would be read as an ASL sign for “give”; it wasn’t.

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