Camille Oliver
Anthropology 1020
Chimpanzee and Human Communication
By Camille Oliver
Humankind’s closest living relative, the chimpanzee, is a member of the great ape family,
along with bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. As with humans, chimpanzees have an extremely
close mother-infant bond, and a prolonged childhood living with his or her family in which to
learn, develop cultural behaviors, and grow. They are indigenous to Africa and can live up to 50
years or more. Free-living chimpanzees make and use different tools for gathering and preparing
foods. They shape and use sticks to retrieve insects or dig up grubs, use stones to smash open
nuts, and use leaves as sponges to soak up water to drink. They have also demonstrated
cooperative problem-solving, and the ability to understand and use American Sign Language,
along with artificial languages.
Then, what is the possibility of chimpanzees and humans communicating with one
another? Chimpanzees and humans are a “sibling species,” after all, sharing 98.67% of human
DNA. And according to the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute (CHCI) located at
Central Washington University, communication between the two species is very real, and in fact,
possible. Located at CHCI, is a family of chimpanzees, Washoe, Moja, both deceased, and three
of which are still living, Loulis, Tatu, and Dar; that communicate using American Sign Language
(ASL) with each other, as well as with their human companions.
“Project Washoe,” is the beginning of this story and research based study, involving
Washoe, Moja, Dar and Tatu. Washoe was received at the age of 10 months, and raised as if she
were a deaf child by Beatrix and Allen Gardner at the University of Nevada from 1966 to 1970.
She was immersed in ASL with a socially enriched environment, where she learned to use ASL
in daily tasks with her human companions. Moja, Dar, and Tatu were immersed in ASL in a
similar fashion. Loulis, adopted son of Washoe, however, was the focus of a different project,
known as “Project Loulis,” designed by Roger, who joined Project Washoe in 1967 as a graduate
student, and Deborah Fouts. This project focused on examining if an infant chimp would acquire
ASL signs from his mother. Humans were not allowed to sign around Loulis until 1984, when it
was verified that he had indeed learned his signs from his mother and the other chimps.
Researchers at CHCI did a study done under double-blind conditions, which found that
the chimpanzees communicate information in ASL to human observers. They use signs to refer
to natural language categories such as dog for any dog, or flower for any flower. They have also
demonstrated an ability to invent new signs or to combine signs to metaphorically label an item,
for example labeling a watermelon as “drink fruit.” The chimps acquire and spontaneously use
their ASL to communicate with each other and humans alike about surrounding events. The
study also revealed that “the chimpanzees can comprehend and produce novel prepositional
phrases, understand vocal English words, translate words into their ASL glosses and even
transmit their signing skills to the next generation without human intervention.” (cwu.edu)
Research based on conversation revealed the chimps initiate and can maintain conversations in a
Camille Oliver
Anthropology 1020
way that is a lot like humans, and they can even revise a conversation if there is a
misunderstanding.
"Washoe has taught me that we are both a part of the natural world we share with all our
fellow animals. She has taught me that personhood is something we share, and that personhood
goes beyond species classifications. She has taught me that human arrogance is very lethal to our
fellow beings on this planet, especially when it is combined with human ignorance. She has
taught me that the most profound scientific discoveries are often based on the most humble
approach. She has taught me that compassion is one of our dearest traits, and that we should
value it above all others, including intelligence. She helped me to realize that if we humans do
not embrace and respect our fellow species on this planet, then we stand a good chance of
destroying the whole thing." (Next of Kin, Roger Fouts)
What a wonderful and real experience it must be, communicating with chimpanzees must
be. Having the ability to take steps to start understanding them better, and possibly other species
in the future. Imagine the lessons that could be found, just as Roger Fouts learned from Washoe.