I know that chimpanzees(and other apes) can learn sign language. But the cool thing is that they can make simple sentances and even teach other chimps sign language after they learn it.
they are quite smart, i don't know if i read it here or on another site, but someone did a test, wherein a trainer showed a chimp how to own a box to get food, the case being clear, the chimp could see everything the person did. while showing the chimp how to do it, the person would do things that don't open the box or do it wrong on purpose
the chimp watched him and didn't do the mistakes the person did on purpose
So my question is, if we teach alot of chimps sign language, and other skills, like how to make simple tools, and then if we released them back into the wild, could they teach more chimps and then evenutally a whole area of a chimp population these skills. And then they could pass it down from generation to generation. Is his Theoretically possible?
i doubt it, chimps don't need sign language to speak to other chimps, they only need it to speak to us
in the case of comunication, you wouldn't use something that others don't use.
namely you wouldn't talk around a deaf person, its pointless to do so, you'd use sign language
its a matter of use of something after all, what good would sign language be to chimps in the wild?
its a good question, but the fact is, in the jungles, sign language would be useless over long distances, they i believe, use calls to communicate long distances
Edited by ReverendDG, : No reason given.
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