Document Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Chimpanzee, Word Use, American Sign Language
Abstract
Gardner and Gardner (1989) cross-fostered several chimpanzees as deaf human children immersed in American Sign Language (ASL). Many studies examined and observed how the chimpanzees would develop and learn signs from ASL. Tatu, one of these chimpanzees, has been observed signing BLACK in varied conversations throughout her life. It was often thought that she used BLACK to describe items she prefers. This study explored that hypothesis. Sign logs, an archival database, contain records of the chimpanzees’ use of signs. We selected all instances of the use of BLACK between February 2001 to May 2005. Ten caregivers rated items on a list of topics as positive, negative, or neutral. Tatu signed BLACK in topics rated positively and rarely signed BLACK in topics rated neutral or negative.
Recommended Citation
Keenan, Susan Ann and Jensvold, Mary Lee A., "Contextual Use of the Sign ‘BLACK’ in a Signing Chimpanzee" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 162.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/162
Poster Number
62
Additional Mentoring Department
Primate Behavior and Ecology
Contextual Use of the Sign ‘BLACK’ in a Signing Chimpanzee
Gardner and Gardner (1989) cross-fostered several chimpanzees as deaf human children immersed in American Sign Language (ASL). Many studies examined and observed how the chimpanzees would develop and learn signs from ASL. Tatu, one of these chimpanzees, has been observed signing BLACK in varied conversations throughout her life. It was often thought that she used BLACK to describe items she prefers. This study explored that hypothesis. Sign logs, an archival database, contain records of the chimpanzees’ use of signs. We selected all instances of the use of BLACK between February 2001 to May 2005. Ten caregivers rated items on a list of topics as positive, negative, or neutral. Tatu signed BLACK in topics rated positively and rarely signed BLACK in topics rated neutral or negative.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Jensvold, Mary Lee