Savage-Rumbaugh Power Point

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Savage-Rumbaugh et al. (1986)

Spontaneous symbol acquisition and

communicative use by Pygmy

Chimpanees

!ani

"

le#ig$am

%eyboa$d


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Thinking about humanThinking about human

languagelanguage “ “Furious green ideas sleepFurious green ideas sleep

peacefully”peacefully” “’“’Twas brillig and the slithy toves didTwas brillig and the slithy toves did

gyre and gimble in the wabe”gyre and gimble in the wabe”

Does these sentences make sense?Does these sentences make sense?

Can the word order be changed?Can the word order be changed? re these sentences grammatical? re these sentences grammatical? !ow did you make these decisions?!ow did you make these decisions?


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Thinking about humanThinking about human

languagelanguage c"uiring human c"uiring human

languagelanguage

#s the ability to use#s the ability to use

humanhuman

languagelanguage learnedlearned oror

innateinnate?? This is the nature orThis is the nature or

nurture debatenurture debate


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Language theories 1Language theories 1

TheThe behaviouristbehaviourist theorytheory$%&F& 'kinner($%&F& 'kinner(

Children learn byChildren learn by imitationimitation $copying( and$copying( andreinforcementreinforcement $rewards)punishments($rewards)punishments(

'kinner calls this'kinner calls this operanto

perantconditioningconditionin

g


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Language theories 2Language theories 2

TheThe nativistnativist theory $*oamtheory $*oamChomsky(Chomsky(

Children are born with anChildren are born with anbuilt+in ,anguagebuilt+in ,anguage

c"uisition Device $,&&D&( c"uisition Device $,&&D&(

The ability to learn)useThe ability to learn)uselanguage is hard wired intolanguage is hard wired intothe human brainthe human brain


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Language theories:Language theories:

debate 1debate 1 *T-./ $'kinner(*T-./

$'kinner(

This theory emphasisesThis theory emphasises performance

performance

child imitates what she hears and child imitates what she hears andis reinforced when correctis reinforced when correct

0radually correct vocalisations are0radually correct vocalisations areshaped and words are learnedshaped and words are learned


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Language theories….Language theories….

*T-./ $'kinner( + criticisms*T-./ $'kinner( + criticisms

#t would take too long to learn#t would take too long to learnlanguage this waylanguage this way

#n fact1 parents do#n fact1 parents do notnot reinforcereinforce

correct speech in a consistent waycorrect speech in a consistent way $think2 “baby talk”($think2 “baby talk”(


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Language theories….Language theories….

The *T#3#'T theory $Chomsky(The *T#3#'T theory $Chomsky(

emphasisesemphasises competencecompetence

usingusing vs vs understandingunderstanding

ll humans are 4prepared’ to learn ll humans are 4prepared’ to learn

languagelanguage

Fact2 normal children ac"uire language inFact2 normal children ac"uire language in

similar stagessimilar stages ,inguistic universals,inguistic universals e5ist in everye5ist in every

languagelanguage


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LINGUISTICLINGUISTIC

UNIV!S"LSUNIV!S"LS

6 C7897*/*T' of language6 C7897*/*T' of language

9!7*7,70: 9!7*7,70: + sound patterns + sound patterns

':*T;':*T; < word patterns $esp& word order< word patterns $esp& word order< “dog bit man” does not mean the same as< “dog bit man” does not mean the same as“man bit dog”(“man bit dog”(

'/8*T#C''/8*T#C' < meaning patterns< meaning patterns


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Chara#teristi#s o$Chara#teristi#s o$

language uselanguage use '/8*T#C#T: + words have meanings'/8*T#C#T: + words have meanings

D#'9,C/8/*T + words can be used to referD#'9,C/8/*T + words can be used to refer

to things that are not present in time)spaceto things that are not present in time)space

'T.-CT-./ D/9/*D/*C/ + words can be'T.-CT-./ D/9/*D/*C/ + words can be4chunked together’ and moved around +4chunked together’ and moved around +

e&g& “dog bit man” vs “man bit dog”e&g& “dog bit man” vs “man bit dog”

C./T#3#T: + each utterance might be uni"ue1C./T#3#T: + each utterance might be uni"ue1

always creating new words or e5pressionsalways creating new words or e5pressions 0/*/.,#'T#7* + from one situation to0/*/.,#'T#7* + from one situation to

anotheranother


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Language % the greatLanguage % the great

debatedebate =hy teach language to=hy teach language to

apes?apes?

#f apes can learn language#f apes can learn languageit supports 'kinnerit supports 'kinner

$nurture($nurture(

#f not perhaps Chomsky is#f not perhaps Chomsky isright $nature(right $nature(


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Tea#hing language toTea#hing language to

a&esa&es The earliest e5perimentThe earliest e5periment

$>6@s($>6@s( =inthrop A ,uella Bellogg=inthrop A ,uella Bellogg

and their chimp 0uaand their chimp 0ua

%rought up like human baby%rought up like human baby Continually e5posed toContinually e5posed to

speechspeech

44-nderstood’ @ words but-nderstood’ @ words butnever spokenever spoke *%& chimps have *7 vocal*%& chimps have *7 vocal

chordschords


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Beyboard with symbolsBeyboard with symbolslinkedlinkedto computer and a vendingto computer and a vending

machinemachine #f ,ana re"uested 4food’#f ,ana re"uested 4food’she received itshe received it

,ana understood symbols,ana understood symbolslike 4more’like 4more’

:/' + semanticity :/' + :/' + semanticity :/' +displacement1displacement1

*7 + structure*7 + structuredependencedependence

Sue Savage-Rumbaugh (P$o&ect 'ana)


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Gardner ' Gardner ()ro*e#tGardner ' Gardner ()ro*e#t

+ashoe, +ashoe, case study case study 9articipant + a female chimp9articipant + a female chimp ge + appro5 > year old ge + appro5 > year old

9rocedure + =ashoe lived in9rocedure + =ashoe lived ina caravan in the llen Aa caravan in the llen ATri5ie 0ardner’s garden ATri5ie 0ardner’s garden Awas taught merican 'ignwas taught merican 'ign

,anguage $',(,anguage $',( ,anguage was reinforced,anguage was reinforced

with rewardswith rewards


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+ashoe-s &rogress ... 1 +ashoe-s &rogress ... 1

First '#*0,/ '#0*'First '#*0,/ '#0*' ““come”1 “gimme”1 “hurry”1 “sweet”1come”1 “gimme”1 “hurry”1 “sweet”1

“tickle”“tickle”

6 signs after E> months6 signs after E> months

by years1 over >@@ signsby years1 over >@@ signs

:/' + '/8*T#C#T: :/' + '/8*T#C#T:

signed T77T!%.-'! in bathroomsigned T77T!%.-'! in bathroom

signed F,7=/. in garden and whensigned F,7=/. in garden and when

shown picture of owershown picture of ower


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+ashoes &rogress ... 2 +ashoes &rogress ... 2 :/' + C./T#3#T: :/' + C./T#3#T: =ashoe spontaneously used=ashoe spontaneously used

combinations of signscombinations of signs

0#88/ T#CB,/0#88/ T#CB,/ 79/* F77D D.#*B + open the fridge79/* F77D D.#*B + open the fridge

,#'T/* /T + listen to the dinner gong,#'T/* /T + listen to the dinner gong

07 '=//T + take me to the raspberry07 '=//T + take me to the raspberry

bushesbushes


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+ashoe-s &rogress ... / +ashoe-s &rogress ... /

*7 'T.-CT-./ D/9/*D/*C/*7 'T.-CT-./ D/9/*D/*C/ /nglish children usually put the/nglish children usually put the

'-%G/CT before the CT#7*'-%G/CT before the CT#7*

8ummy come8ummy come /ve read/ve read

Car goneCar gone

=ashoe did not do this=ashoe did not do this

07 '=//T or '=//T 07 both used07 '=//T or '=//T 07 both used

for “take me to the raspberry bushes”for “take me to the raspberry bushes”


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Sa0age%!umbaugh et al (13,Sa0age%!umbaugh et al (13,

S&ontaneous s4mbolS&ontaneous s4mbola#5uisition anda#5uisition and

#ommuni#ati0e use b4 &4gm4#ommuni#ati0e use b4 &4gm4

#him&an6ees#him&an6ees

BanHi A 'ueBanHi A 'ue

'avage+'avage+.umbaugh.umbaugh

44having a chat’having a chat’


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!esear#h design!esear#h design

.esearch "uestion2 Can.esearch "uestion2 Can

BanHi learn symbolicBanHi learn symbolic

language without training inlanguage without training in

the same way children do?the same way children do?

8ethod2 Case 'tudy +8ethod2 Case 'tudy +

longitudinal designlongitudinal design

The report of BanHi’sThe report of BanHi’s

language development $thelanguage development $theIndings( is described asIndings( is described as

4serendipitous’ < meaning it4serendipitous’ < meaning it

occurred by happy chanceoccurred by happy chance BanHidisplays one

of his


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7an6i % the &arti#i&ant7an6i % the &arti#i&ant

The participant2The participant2

B*J# born EK)>@)K@ in captivity1 his mother was aB*J# born EK)>@)K@ in captivity1 his mother was a4language chimp’ and infant BanHi went to her lessons4language chimp’ and infant BanHi went to her lessons

ssigned to the language research centre at L months A ssigned to the language research centre at L months A

reared in a language using environment with humansreared in a language using environment with humans

=hen E=hen EMM yrs old it was observed that he was using yrs old it was observed that he was using

symbols spontaneously $perhaps because he hadsymbols spontaneously $perhaps because he hadobserved his mother(observed his mother(

%ig surprise < shown no interest in language at his%ig surprise < shown no interest in language at his

mother’s lessonsNmother’s lessonsN

Sahili o$ treasure


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Serendi&itousSerendi&itous

8bser0ation8bser0ation

BanHiBanHi

began to use symbols withoutbegan to use symbols withouttrainingtraining

identiIed symbols correctly and dididentiIed symbols correctly and did

not confuse them $e&g& apple1not confuse them $e&g& apple1orange1 banana(orange1 banana(

understood spoken wordsunderstood spoken words


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e sua 4m oe sua 4m oS4stemS4stem

#ndoors2 battery powered#ndoors2 battery poweredkeyboard with geometrickeyboard with geometric

symbols that brighten whensymbols that brighten when

touched1 then speechtouched1 then speechsynthesiser 4speaks’ thesynthesiser 4speaks’ the

wordword

7utdoors2 copy of keyboard7utdoors2 copy of keyboard

as laminated pointing boardas laminated pointing board

each symbol called aeach symbol called a

,/;#0.8,/;#0.8


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7ansi-s le9igram ke4board7ansi-s le9igram ke4board

i d7 i- 8 d


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7ansi-s 8utdoor7ansi-s 8utdoor

n0ironmentn0ironment OO acres forestP > food locationsP must travelOO acres forestP > food locationsP must travel

to 4get food’ from each location for a speciIcto 4get food’ from each location for a speciIc

food type e&g& bananas to treehouse1 peachesfood type e&g& bananas to treehouse1 peaches

to lookoutto lookout

BanHi learned where all the food was locatedBanHi learned where all the food was located

Could select a food from photos on theCould select a food from photos on the

ground and could guide another person to hisground and could guide another person to his

chosen locationchosen location

,earned to use the symbols on the keyboard,earned to use the symbols on the keyboard

to indicate where he wanted to goto indicate where he wanted to go


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ata Colle#tionata Colle#tion

,ongitudinal case study,ongitudinal case study

records kept of BanHi’s languagerecords kept of BanHi’s language

development $symbol use( for >development $symbol use( for >

monthsmonths

From the age of EFrom the age of EMM

Computerised records fromComputerised records fromkeyboardkeyboard

*otes from observers when outside*otes from observers when outside


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Longitudinal Case Stud4 Longitudinal Case Stud4

The data $assessing BanHi’s symbol use(The data $assessing BanHi’s symbol use(

correct or incorrect $did he use the rightcorrect or incorrect $did he use the right

le5igram?(le5igram?(

spontaneous $was it unprompted?(spontaneous $was it unprompted?(

imitation $had he seen someone else use it(imitation $had he seen someone else use it( structured $e&g& responds to "uestion(structured $e&g& responds to "uestion(

also %ehavioural ConcordanceNalso %ehavioural ConcordanceN

NN means did symbol+use match way BanHimeans did symbol+use match way BanHi

acted?acted? e&g& if re"uest to 4go to treehouse’1 did he lead ae&g& if re"uest to 4go to treehouse’1 did he lead a

person to the treehouse?person to the treehouse?


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ControlsControls

nalysis of videotape against real time nalysis of videotape against real time

coding of symbol use by E observerscoding of symbol use by E observers

> scored real time1 > scored tape1 real> scored real time1 > scored tape1 real

time observer did not know the recordtime observer did not know the record

would be used for reliability check would be used for reliability check

>@@Q agreement on correct vs>@@Q agreement on correct vs

incorrect use of symbolsincorrect use of symbols > disagreement over spontaneous use> disagreement over spontaneous use


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Testing 7ansiTesting 7ansi

given le5igram and)orgiven le5igram and)or

photophoto

asked to match toasked to match to

obRectobRect also match to spokenalso match to spoken

/nglish/nglish

see e5ample listsee e5ample list

; S error; S error

C S matchC S match

*9 S *ot 9ossible*9 S *ot 9ossible


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Sherman ' "ustinSherman ' "ustin

BanHi A his sister 8ulika wereBanHi A his sister 8ulika were

pygmy chimps $bonobos(pygmy chimps $bonobos(

.esearchers also had E common.esearchers also had E common

chimpanHees < 'herman AchimpanHees < 'herman A

ustin ustin

They were part of earlierThey were part of earlier

training programme < trained intraining programme < trained in

using symbols with rewards etcusing symbols with rewards etc

Took 6 years for them to showTook 6 years for them to show

behavioural concordancebehavioural concordance

8ostly used signs for food8ostly used signs for food

C i ith thC i ith th


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Com&aring


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Com&aring


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=onobos ' Children=onobos ' Children

BanHi appeared to learn signs the wayBanHi appeared to learn signs the waychildren ac"uire languagechildren ac"uire language

'tarts with associations < BanHi learned'tarts with associations < BanHi learned

“strawberries” at mushroom site and at Irst“strawberries” at mushroom site and at Irst

used “strawberries” only there < later learnedused “strawberries” only there < later learnedto use sign in wider conte5tto use sign in wider conte5t

Tend to generalise < used “tomato” for allTend to generalise < used “tomato” for all

round red fruitsround red fruits

'tarted to use multi+syllable e5pressions'tarted to use multi+syllable e5pressions

$“chase bit person”($“chase bit person”(

#mitated most often when learning new words#mitated most often when learning new words


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Con#lusionsCon#lusions

BanHi learned to use the symbols spontaneouslyBanHi learned to use the symbols spontaneously BanHi A the language universals?BanHi A the language universals? semanticity + :/'P creativity + :/'Psemanticity + :/'P creativity + :/'P structure dependence + :/'Pstructure dependence + :/'P 0eneralisation + :/'P Displacement < :/'0eneralisation + :/'P Displacement < :/' Compared to other species of chimps pygmyCompared to other species of chimps pygmy

chimpanHees appear to be able to learn and usechimpanHees appear to be able to learn and uselanguage more like a human childlanguage more like a human child

Do bonobos have “untapped potential” to learnDo bonobos have “untapped potential” to learnlanguage? 9erhaps one individual could pushlanguage? 9erhaps one individual could pushthe behaviour of a group of wild apes towardsthe behaviour of a group of wild apes towardslanguageVlanguageV

l i hi S d l ti thi St d


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0aluating this Stud4 0aluating this Stud4 WuantitativeWuantitative *D *D "ualitative"ualitative datadata

=ere the measures 3,#D? =as BanHi really using=ere the measures 3,#D? =as BanHi really usinglanguage or Rust “parrotting”? $'tephen 9inker(language or Rust “parrotting”? $'tephen 9inker(

=ere the measures ./,#%,/? =ould researchers=ere the measures ./,#%,/? =ould researchers

agree with each other?agree with each other?

!ow representative is BanHi of bonobos? of other!ow representative is BanHi of bonobos? of other

apes? $*% BanHi is a particularly skilled toolapes? $*% BanHi is a particularly skilled tool

userN(userN(

!ow realistic was the study $ecological validity(?!ow realistic was the study $ecological validity(?

=hat are apes like “in the wild”?=hat are apes like “in the wild”?

=hat ethical issues does this study raise?=hat ethical issues does this study raise? =hat dierences are there between BanHi A child=hat dierences are there between BanHi A child

learner?learner?

#s this research useful?#s this research useful?

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