2008 Woodie Awards
SectionsRenowned scientist says apes can communicate
Brad Boutaugh
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: News
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An influential scientist said apes have the ability to interpret music, play Pac-man and communicate with people, based on her latest findings with an exceptional ape species.
"They seem to have this musical speech," Sue Savage-Rumbaugh said of the uncommon species of ape known as bonobos to Missouri State students and staff at Hill Hall last Thursday.
Rumbaugh spoke on apes' ability to learn in bi-cultural rearing and how it redefines the boundaries between humans and non-human primates.
She spoke on such similarities through her research with bonobos and how they have displayed learning traits unique of other apes.
Bonobos, known as Panba-nisha, Matata and Kanzi, helped to yield interesting new findings in ape communication and learning.
Kanzi has been regarded as the first great ape to demonstrate a real comprehension of spoken speech, according to the Great Ape Trust of Iowa Web site.
Rumbaugh, later on in her speech, showed the audiences a video showing Kanzi passively start a fire and sniffing the rising smoke with little other response.
Chimpanzees she has studied have been afraid at the sight of smoke alone Rumbaugh said.
"They have a clear ability to take turns in any normal conversation, they have an ability to reference things absent in location, [and] things that occur later in time," Rumbaugh said. "They possess multiple modes of response and intake."
"Apes' social behavior at play is filled with communication," Rumbaugh said.
Besides examples of communication, Rumbaugh also sho-wed the audience bonobos playing Pac-man, chasing and eating blue ghosts in the game under her instruction, within the video.
Rumbaugh also discussed Bonobo's ability to interpret music, as audiences watched Panbanisha explore a keyboard and beat the keys.
"When they do play the piano they seem to get into a kind of synchrony and engagement," Rumbaugh said. "[It's] not possible by chance. They're not possible unless the bonobos have a high degree of understanding music."
"They seem to have this musical speech," Sue Savage-Rumbaugh said of the uncommon species of ape known as bonobos to Missouri State students and staff at Hill Hall last Thursday.
Rumbaugh spoke on apes' ability to learn in bi-cultural rearing and how it redefines the boundaries between humans and non-human primates.
She spoke on such similarities through her research with bonobos and how they have displayed learning traits unique of other apes.
Bonobos, known as Panba-nisha, Matata and Kanzi, helped to yield interesting new findings in ape communication and learning.
Kanzi has been regarded as the first great ape to demonstrate a real comprehension of spoken speech, according to the Great Ape Trust of Iowa Web site.
Rumbaugh, later on in her speech, showed the audiences a video showing Kanzi passively start a fire and sniffing the rising smoke with little other response.
Chimpanzees she has studied have been afraid at the sight of smoke alone Rumbaugh said.
"They have a clear ability to take turns in any normal conversation, they have an ability to reference things absent in location, [and] things that occur later in time," Rumbaugh said. "They possess multiple modes of response and intake."
"Apes' social behavior at play is filled with communication," Rumbaugh said.
Besides examples of communication, Rumbaugh also sho-wed the audience bonobos playing Pac-man, chasing and eating blue ghosts in the game under her instruction, within the video.
Rumbaugh also discussed Bonobo's ability to interpret music, as audiences watched Panbanisha explore a keyboard and beat the keys.
"When they do play the piano they seem to get into a kind of synchrony and engagement," Rumbaugh said. "[It's] not possible by chance. They're not possible unless the bonobos have a high degree of understanding music."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Melissa Davis
posted 10/09/07 @ 3:16 PM CST
Upon reading the title of this headline, I found myself wondering, "Where in the heck is 'Renound'?" I believe the word you are searching for, Mr. Boutaugh, is 'renowned'. (Continued…)
Lindsey Davis
posted 10/09/07 @ 4:43 PM CST
Once again The Standard successfully manages to disappoint. In the 6 years (I am a graduate student) I have attended this school I have seen some egregious errors in The Standard, both grammatical and journalistic, but I think this may be a first. (Continued…)
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