Content Area IV: Language, Communication and Thought (Module 28)
Topic: Introduction to Animal Language Research Myers Module: 28 Activity Type: online videos
Description: Is language an exclusive human acquisition or can animals acquire it? The Worth’s Instructor Video Tool Kit for Introductory Psychology as a short video introduction to the topic. The most likely animal to learn language is a great ape, like a gorillas, bonobos, and chimpanzees, as they brain capacity to handle it. But it is unlikely that they will ever learn to speak English as their brain and vocal cords and not built to do so, see the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsaqD9FVRsM&feature=relmfu (from the beginning to 6:17) Assessment: Summarize and assess the evidence of the reasons for the limits of apes to speak. Notes: This assignment can be done individually or in groups, face-to-face or online, and as a discussion or written assignment. Source: Eric Amsel TICE Goals: 1a, 1b, 1c, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4d, 5a, 5b, 5e
Topic: Linguistic Skills of Great Apes Myers Module: 28 Activity Type: online videos Description: So instead of teaching animals to speak, there has been a long term effect to teach them to sign language. Among the first ape to be taught sign language is Washoe, a chimpanzee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNwbe1yKtpo. Koko is a signing gorilla, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmuu8UEi2ko. There are videos of Koko and Washoe demonstrating sign their language competence, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V_rAY0g9DM&feature=relmfu. One remarkable event cured when Washoe’s baby died and she was given an adopted son Loulis to whom she taught she taught sign language, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55put3MLZcw. Another approach to studying great ape language was to use a symbol board, which was done with Kanzi, a Bonobo, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBUHWoFnuB4. Assessment: Summarize the evidence for the ape linguistic skills and how strong you find it to be in support of ape language. Notes: This assignment can be done individually or in groups, face-to-face or online, and as a discussion or written assignment. Source: Eric Amsel TICE Goals: 1a, 1b, 1c, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4d, 5a, 5b, 5e
Topic: Critiques of Animal Language Research Myers Module: 28 Activity Type: website/online video Description: Despite these findings, many in the psychologists remained skeptical (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/403756.stm ). Chief among them is Herbert Terrace, who concluded that the chimps were just imitating signs and not productively creating them. The conclusion was based carefully studying Nim Chimsky, a chimpanzee who was intensely trained in sign language form early in its life. The entire project was the subject of a recent Sundance move, titled Project Nim, a trailer for which is available, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxQap9AAPOs&feature=related. Assessment: Given an account of what you think the evidence shows regarding the linguistic skills of great apes. Notes: This assignment can be done individually or in groups, face-to-face or online, and as a discussion or written assignment. Source: Eric Amsel TICE Goals: 1b, 1c, 1d, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4d, 5a, 5b, 5e