Abstract The paper provides an extensive literature review on the topic of communication among apes and discusses how it seems clear that apes can acquire some form of language and communicate with humans. The paper reveals that there is also evidence that apes may have a form of language of their own by which they communicate with each other. The paper discovers that apes would not normally acquire such capabilities on their own, but they can be trained to use language and respond to its meaning.
Outline:
Introduction
Review of Literature
Conclusion
From the Paper "Research has been conducted for a long time on questions about the origin of language and how human beings first learned to speak. More recently, research has shifted to various primate studies as to whether or not other primates have what can be considered a language and in some cases whether apes can be taught to understand language and even to speak. Some of the early experiments in this area were seen as promising by some and as self-delusion by others, but the research continued and has produced a number of interesting results that may bring us closer to understanding the genesis of language and how widespread language is in the animal kingdom."
Abstract The paper defines the word consciousness and questions whether chimpanzees and other apes do indeed possess all three traits that make up consciousness as we know it: language, self-awareness, and theory of mind. The paper gives examples from animal communication research which show that they perhaps do possess these traits. It then looks at the critics of this theory who claim that the difference between the human and ape consciousness is vast and that apes cannot really claim to possess language, self-awareness and a theory of mind skills.
From the Paper "One of the original researchers using sign language with apes, Herb Terrace is now a critic. Terrace placed a chimpanzee named Nim in a community of people using sign language to see if he would pick up the language, but found that only by bribing him with treats did he learn (Wynne 52). Terrace realized that Nim was simply using signs that his trainers had used in their question, so in effect he was just echoing what had been said (Wynne 52). Regarding Washoe's description of a swan as ?waterbird,? it is noted that perhaps she was simply naming two things she saw, water and bird. As far as Kanzi's ability to pick up symbolic language from observation of her mother's training, it must be noted that Kanzi was rewarded for her use of symbols and usually given the things that she named (Wynne 52)."
Review of the novel "Black Elk Speaks" from the perspective of Christianity with an emphasis on the influence Christianity has had on the Lakota Sioux.
2,150 words (approx. 8.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 80.95
Abstract The characters in John Neihardt's "Black Elk Speaks" cross a multitude of literary representations, symbols and metaphors. Although one can say that each of these characters or representations are unique to the Lakota Sioux, and indeed represent what is unique about Native American heritage in general, This paper will focus more on how these representations and characters reflect the Christian influence upon the Lakota Sioux. Throughout "Black Elk Speaks", many Christian parallels may be found and this paper will highlight several of them.
A discussion of the sign and symbol-based language experiments conducted with great apes over the last forty years, including criticisms, findings, and implications. Addresses projects with gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos.
6,395 words (approx. 25.6 pages), 15 sources, 2002, $ 148.95
Abstract This paper addresses a number of different language experiments that have been performed with all four species of great apes - gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos, and the advantages, disadvantages, and relative success of each, including conducted experiments. The author discusses the physical limitations of the apes, the advantages of using sign language as opposed to keyboard and symbol-based language, and criticisms brought up by various skeptics. The paper also mentions other types of cognitive activities in which the apes have participated, including painting and learning a system of economic exchange.
From the paper:
"The Koko Project is currently the longest running and most successful of all the ape language projects. Patterson's goal was for Koko [the gorilla] to learn 200 signs ? she now knows over a thousand, and understands at least 2,000 words of spoken English. She asks questions, she lies, she tells stories, she uses the negative, she uses and understands abstract words like love, hate, and death, and she even tells jokes. One of the most famous incidents involves a conversation between Koko and one of her teachers regarding the color of her blanket. As she was getting ready to go to bed, the teacher asked Koko what color the blanket was. Koko responded "red," even though the blanket was white. The teacher admonished her and asked her again, refusing to believe that Koko would make such a simple mistake. Still, Koko responded "red," and repeated it several times. The teacher was perplexed. Then Koko pulled a tiny piece of red lint off the blanket, pointed to it, and signed "red," and started laughing her deep, breathy, gorilla laugh. Humor, then, is another quality we humans can no longer claim for ourselves alone."
Abstract The paper looks at a few studies conducted on apes and their ability to acquire language. The writer addresses the hypothesis that if researchers can learn how apes acquire language skills and how they process input from humans, it should be possible to communicate with them in a meaningful way. The paper presents a method of study, introducing the hypothesis and the test for reaching a conclusion.
From the Paper "The design of the study would involve a comparison of the methods by which children and apes acquire language skills. The apes and humans tested would have to be raised from birth by the same caregivers and given the same exposure to language, either acquired by listening to it or acquired in specific teaching sessions. Learning of words and their association with objects would be studied first, then sentence recognition would be studied. Controls would be used to ensure that words and sentences were really recognized, and not just remembered by rote or by cues given unknowingly by the caregiver. These would involve presenting words or sentences in different orders, and varying the order of words in sentences."
Abstract This paper discusses the premise of Stanford's book, "The Hunting Apes", which contends that early human social formations were predicated on the acquisition and sharing of meat. The paper explains how Stanford, after exploring the role of female and male apes as hunters and consumers of meat, arrived at the conclusion that the acquisition and sharing of meat contributed to a "might-makes-right" form of patriarchy.
From the Paper "Over the course of the last 100 years, consensus has varied greatly with respect to the emergence of mankind in Africa; especially with respect to temperament. These theories have met with everything from hearty praise to scornful denunciation; the book jacket to ?African Genesis,? published in the 1950?s, includes the opinion of the New York Times: ?The theories are wildly wrong.? One of the most controversial subjects has been man's diet, and how that has had a bearing on the evolution of mankind. This is the subject of Craig Stanford's ?The Hunting Apes,? which portrays early human social formations as being predicated on the acquisition and sharing of meat."
Abstract This paper is in two parts. The first part reviews and summarizes past work in ape language research, including the Gardners' work with the chimp Washoe, Francine Patterson's work with Koko the gorilla, Lyn Miles's work with Chantek the orangutan and Sue Savage-Rumbaugh's work with bonobos and chimps. The second part is a proposal for an experiment to teach American Sign Language to a group of bonobos and then use these communicative abilities to test their memory and planning abilities. It includes descriptions of bonobo behavior in the wild and captivity, an argument for gestural language as the first human language and a description of the means of teaching and testing the bonobos in the proposed experiment. The paper includes a table and illustrations.
From the Paper "During the Oligocene epoch of the Tertiary period, a small monkey-like creature lived in the rainforest trees in central Africa. About thirty million years ago, this primate ancestor diverged into two distinct species; one would father the line of Old World monkeys, including baboons and macaques. The other would become the predecessor of modern apes and humans. Around twenty-two million years ago gibbons split away from that line and formed a branch known as the lesser apes. Six or seven million years later, orangutans too diverged from the ape lineage and migrated to the Asian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, where they remained highly arboreal. Another eight or nine million years passed, during which this ape line began to spend more time on the ground, and gorillas split off to become their own species. Two million years more went by, bringing us to the Pliocene epoch, which began about five million years ago. It was at this crucial point in evolutionary history that our ancestors and the ancestors of modern chimpanzees and bonobos took different paths, the former leading to bipedality, ground-based life, and hominization, the latter eventually splitting into two more distinct species about three million years ago, both of whom would remain remarkably similar to us physically, behaviorally, emotionally, and intellectually (Goodall, Hook, Leakey, Linden 1992)."
Compares the "Man the Hunter" theory of human evolution with the theory in the book, "The Hunting Apes: Meat Eating and the Origins of Human Behavior".
Abstract This paper briefly explains the "Man the Hunter" theory of human evolution and then offers a longer, more detailed explanation of the theory on human behavior put forward in Craig Stanford's book, "The Hunting Apes: Meat Eating and the Origins of Human Behavior". The paper also compares and contrasts the two theories and cites some of the criticisms of Stanford's theory.
From the Paper "How behavior has evolved from our hominid ancestors to the present day has been a constant concern among anthropologists. Charles Darwin's paradigm of human evolution lacks direct evidence in fossil record to provide the basis for the reconstruction (Stanford 1999), which leads anthropological researchers to rely much on their imagination to do the job. In the process, biases result and lead to heated debates and further guesses, the most controversial topic of argument being the origin of hominid sex roles and differences ? if early hominid male had a different behavioral adaptation from the female and if one dominated the other."
Abstract This paper explores the third chapter of Desmond Morris', "The Naked Ape," as it relates to the development of human children. It discusses the content of the chapter under discussion and describes Morris' view on imprinting. The paper compares Morris' view with that of L. Salk and his strong case for imprinting. It concludes that these individuals are very similar, but their methods differ.
From the Paper "In the end, Desmond Morris relies heavily upon the work of Salk in the third chapter of his book. Instinctively, I am inclined to think that Morris is correct in dismissing left-handed cradling; I am also inclined to think that the matter is more complicated than he acknowledges - especially given the findings of later research. Fundamentally, I prefer Salk's findings to Morris' simple regurgitation of them; by engaging in original research, Salk gives his conclusions an authenticity that Morris does not. Furthermore, Morris' refusal to cite studies supporting the arguments of critics insisting that left-handed cradling is caused by "right-handedness" in society leaves the reader with the impression that he erected a "straw-man" so that his own argument would be strengthened."
Abstract Speaking anxiety is the fear of speaking to groups and the level of fear varies from person to person. This paper discusses some of the common causes and symtoms of speaking anxiety. It discusses how it affects the sufferer in life, such as restrictions in career advancements and educational experiences. Finally, the paper provides tips and recommendations to people with speaking anxiety to help them overcome the problem of speaking in public.
From the Paper "Each of the symptoms can happen individually or they can come in groups or all at once. When one is faced with speaking in public these symptoms present themselves. They usually become very pronounced in the minutes before the speaking is expected and can become so pronounced that the anxious person can no longer concentrate on what they were planning to say. In addition they can become so bothersome that the person experiences a well known syndrome called fight or flight. Fight or flight is the desire to run and abandon the immediate environment and situation. If this is a job dependant speaking engagement or necessary to pass a class this can become a very self defeating problem. Furthermore studies have shown that when one uses the flight option and backs out of the speaking engagement, they often feel the consequences were not as bad as speaking would have been. They cannot rationally realize this is not true, because for them the fears and symptoms are all consuming and overwhelming."
Abstract This article looks at Richard Rodriguez's "Aria", which is, essentially, the story of his own childhood as a Spanish-speaking boy who learned the intricacies of the English language under the most complex of circumstances. The writer explains that in revealing the hardships, both emotional and physical, that Rodriguez personally experienced as a non-English speaking child, he attempts to dispute the claims made by supporters of bilingual education - claims which call for the approval of the use of "family languages" in school settings. The writer exposes Rodriguez's emotions and feelings towards the English speaking world.
From the Paper "Early in Rodriguez's childhood, he realized that the world outside his home was far different than the world within it. Outside the safety of the soothing rhythms of his parents' Spanish tongues, he felt as if he were a visitor in a foreign land, yet upon return to his home, the feeling of security returned. He describes the inferiority in the tones of his parents in the gringo world as they struggled through fragments of phrases, comparing it to their gentle confidence of their words as they spoke, within the walls of their home, in Spanish, and he explains that the contrast of the two served only to further his fright of the English language."
Abstract This paper briefly looks at the historical treatment of Spanish-speaking patrons by the American public libraries. It discusses the implications of properly treating Spanish-speaking Americans for the library profession. It then explores the many options and solutions being considered and implemented by professional librarians seeking to formulate some kind of a rapprochement with the Spanish-speaking community. Next, the paper looks at how one major stakeholder (private business) has responded to the ongoing problem about how the library system of the United States can best serve the needs of Spanish-Americans. Finally, the paper provides an analysis of some of the solutions that appear to be available and which one of all of these appears most promising.
From the Paper "There can scarcely be any doubt that American public libraries have historically done a poor job of meeting the needs of Spanish-speaking Hispanic Americans. Part of the reason for this unhappy state of affairs is that Hispanic Americans, until quite recently, did not constitute a large proportion of the American population. In addition, however, there is a general sense (at least in some quarters) that public libraries overlooked the language needs of Hispanic Americans because of a perception that America was an "English-speaking" nation and thus had no pressing obligation to provide for those who spoke another language. This perception has been challenged in recent years - at least in part because libraries are coming to the conclusion that one of the two groups (the other group is Chinese) that is really beginning to assert itself with regards to the use of the latest information technology is Spanish-speaking peoples. For this reason, the ability of American public libraries to accommodate this growing group of patrons is now of undeniable importance."
Abstract The paper looks at methods of organizing material effectively and explains the use of an attention-getting opener, a well-organized and easy to follow speech body and a well thought-out conclusion. The paper also discusses the importance of clear articulation, good projection, variety and animation in presenting a speech.
Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Public Speaking Methods and Skills
Speaking at a Public Meeting-Tips
Public Speaking in the Media
The Attention-Getter
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "Basic presentation skills are stated in the work of McNamara (2007) and stated as the first step is to "list and prioritize the top three goals that you want to accomplish with your audience." Secondly, it is important to "be really clear about who your audience is and why it is important for them to be in the meeting." (McNamara, 2007) Third, it is important to list all the major points of information that should be conveyed to the audience and then to ask oneself if all the points are likely to be understood by everyone in the audience. It is necessary to consider the tone that one desires to set for the presentation. Through defining the tone of the presentation one may enable the cultivation of that mood to those listening in the audience."
A research paper on the new speaking and listening initiative that has been introduced to schools in order to give speaking and listening a higher profile across the curriculum.
Abstract This research paper attempts to discover whether and to what extent the new speaking and listening initiative has been introduced and to find out what the response to the initiative has been from the schools. The study was conducted in primary and junior schools where observations were made in literacy and foundation subjects, over a period of several weeks.
Introduction
Objective of Study
Length and Scope of Study
Organization of the Research
Review of Literature
Design of Study
Methodology
From the Paper "This dissertation will be organized into six chapters. This chapter introduced the research topic by briefly describing the problem. The primary objective was discussed concerning the implementation of the new initiative. It presented, briefly, the background of the study and the research methods. Chapter two will annotate the findings of relevant literature related to the value of speaking and listening in the classroom and how the profile has changed, why it has changed and what problems, if any, there are with the speaking and listening in the classroom. Chapter three will describe the study setting. Chapter four will describe the methods of research. The results of the research will be presented in chapter five. Finally, Chapter six will discuss the results as presented in chapter five and make suggestions and recommendations."
Abstract This paper analyzes the central theme of "Black Elk Speaks," while also considering its most significant images. The paper explains how Black Elk speaks not only for himself but for the fate of his tribe and also discusses his failure to achieve peace for his nation.
From the Paper "In the book "Black Elk Speaks" John Neihardt tells the story of a Lakota Sioux holy man and how his visionary experiences impacted both his Native American nation and the world in general. Indeed the book is not simply Black Elk's personal story or biography but instead serves as an examination of the fate of his tribe as well."
