Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Language
It seems one of our major problems is how to connect to other species. Without doing so we can't begin to see things from their point of view. It doesn't seem like we can learn their languages, at least not fully, so perhaps we can teach them one of our languages. In my book the latest chapter shows studies of sign language being taught to great apes. It shows some incredible findings, such as mothers teaching signs to their children with aid from humans. Also it shows apes adapting signs to mean new things such as the sign for poop to mean dirty, for example, one ape using this sign to call someone bad. This could be a huge step towards making a great connection to other species.
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It could be, but Great Apes are very intelligent animals. I think what separates humans from nonhuman animals for the most part is language and our ability to communicate that way. I think we already have taught animals our language to some extent like with those who we have domesticated. It is a very good idea in theory, I am skeptical it would ever be able to fully come to fruition however.
ReplyDeleteI think that this would make a lot of sense if it weren't for the fact that language was not complex, and that we were able to communicate on more of a primitive level. I think that gorillas who know sign language are able to ask for what they need, but are unable to answers questions such as, "How are you today," or, "Do you think we should tear down this rain forest? Why or why not?" Being so, it's great that we can start a communication line, but I don't think at this point in either of our constant evolutions we are in a place to communicate things that have a substantial meaning.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous and protean as language is, we might be weighting too heavily as a gauge of moral standing. Perhaps the criterion should be not language alone but the larger category of communication -- where most animals' superior sense perception counts for a lot. That might help us take them seriously.
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