Document Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Picture Naming, Chimpanzee, American Sign Language
Abstract
Gardner and Gardner (1989) cross-fostered the chimpanzees, Tatu, Dar, Moja, and Washoe, as deaf human children immersed in American Sign Language. Opportunities to look through picture books, magazines, and photos have been a part of the chimpanzees’ daily routine since early on in their lives. The items chimpanzees choose to communicate about may indicate preferences or show flexible use of signs. This study performed a content analysis on the pictorial items the chimpanzees are signing about. Sign logs, an archival database, contain records of the chimpanzees’ use of signs. We selected all instances of chimpanzee signed interactions with magazines, pictures, photos, and paintings. Signed interactions included conversations between chimpanzee and caregiver as well as a chimpanzee privately signing to him or herself. A total of 74 sign logs were selected for analysis. Coders categorized each item as food, clothing, beauty, vegetation, animal, or other. All of the chimpanzees signed about pictures. Tatu had the highest number of records. She signed about pictures of food more often than any other category. Relationships between the chimpanzees and the items they sign about will be discussed on the poster, including examples of pictures and signs.
Recommended Citation
Putzier, Amanda; Bettini, Anna; Keenan, Susan Ann; and Jensvold, Mary Lee, "Picture Naming in Signing Chimpanzees" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 172.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/172
Poster Number
61
Additional Mentoring Department
Primate Behavior and Ecology
Picture Naming in Signing Chimpanzees
Gardner and Gardner (1989) cross-fostered the chimpanzees, Tatu, Dar, Moja, and Washoe, as deaf human children immersed in American Sign Language. Opportunities to look through picture books, magazines, and photos have been a part of the chimpanzees’ daily routine since early on in their lives. The items chimpanzees choose to communicate about may indicate preferences or show flexible use of signs. This study performed a content analysis on the pictorial items the chimpanzees are signing about. Sign logs, an archival database, contain records of the chimpanzees’ use of signs. We selected all instances of chimpanzee signed interactions with magazines, pictures, photos, and paintings. Signed interactions included conversations between chimpanzee and caregiver as well as a chimpanzee privately signing to him or herself. A total of 74 sign logs were selected for analysis. Coders categorized each item as food, clothing, beauty, vegetation, animal, or other. All of the chimpanzees signed about pictures. Tatu had the highest number of records. She signed about pictures of food more often than any other category. Relationships between the chimpanzees and the items they sign about will be discussed on the poster, including examples of pictures and signs.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Jensvold, Mary Lee