Journal
LANGUAGE & COMMUNICATION
Volume 31, Issue 1, Pages 63-74Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.langcom.2010.11.001
Keywords
Evolution of language; Comparative; Bonobo; Chimpanzee; Declarative communication
Categories
Funding
- NCRR NIH HHS [P51 RR000165] Funding Source: Medline
- NICHD NIH HHS [R01 HD056232, R01 HD056232-01] Funding Source: Medline
- NINDS NIH HHS [R01 NS042867] Funding Source: Medline
Ask authors/readers for more resources
While numerous publications have shown that apes can learn some aspects of human language, one frequently cited difference between humans and apes is the relative infrequency of declaratives (comments and statements) as opposed to imperatives (requests) in ape symbol use. This paper describes the use of declaratives in three language-competent apes and two children. The apes produced a lower proportion of spontaneous declaratives than did the children. However, both groups used declaratives to name objects, to interact and negotiate, and to make comments about other individuals. Both apes and children also made comments about past and future events. However, showing/offering/giving, attention getting, and comments on possession were declarative types made by the children but rarely by the apes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available