Abstract
This paper examines the mean length of utterance (MLU) which refers to the actual length of the sentence uttered in terms of words and morphemes within a particular sentence. The paper particularly compares the utterance length in children versus the abilities of chimpanzees as measured by the MLU. The paper then looks at verbal and nonverbal associations of language and all of its complexities among children and chimpanzees.

From the Paper
"Therefore, further studies need to focus on furthering the understanding of chimpanzee sign language as a true form of language. Furthering on Dwyer's 1986 research study, a new study should focus on the concept of comparing normal children's verbal language skills with chimpanzee's non-verbal language communication skills. The level of proficiency of both normal human children needs to be matched to young non-verbal communications of chimpanzees. However, since previous studies have already shown that there is a certain point where children rise above the levels of chimpanzee language skills, these future studies need to focus on finding the particular average age in which this further development takes place. This means an ANOVA data analysis study based on a weekly transgression of language development of a relatively large population of growing kids and chimpanzees. With a larger portion being studies on a much more constant basis, researchers should be able to get a more concrete age range of when human children begin to significantly rise above the language skills of chimpanzees based on the complexity of utterances and sentences. This would provide the psychological world a better idea of exactly what age range we branch of from our ape ancestors."

Tags:verbal morphemes sentence, sign language

Abstract
The paper discusses the largely North American pursuit of debating whether the chimpanzee can be taught to speak. The paper explores the numerous experiments and hypotheses and the contention among social scientists. The paper describes how this work has continued since the 1950s and with earlier behavioral work in the 1930s, yet chimpanzees show little aptitude or interest in speaking with Homo sapiens.

From the Paper
"The human enterprise of teaching chimpanzees to communicate in English has continued, as a venture of psychologists, as well as primatologists. In the 1920s and 1930s, Robert Yerkes examined the behaviour of chimpanzees in their African habitat, noticing that they would imitate his actions but not the sounds he made. Before long, the first of what has proven a succession of husband and wife chimpanzee-parents and language teachers materialized as in Kellogg & Kellogg who, in the early 1930s, stated that the vocal apparatus of the chimpanzee had made their teaching efforts impossible."

Tags:chimps, speech/language, approaches

Abstract
This essay provides an examination of the differences and similarities of humans and chimpanzees, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

From the Paper
"According to Charles E. Oxnard (1987), gaining an understanding the human lineage is one of the main problems in studying human evolution; however, many fossil hunters appear to believe that this means that their task is to find the fragments of the precise human ancestor in the field. "Likewise, many laboratory workers seem to believe that this means that their task is showing that a particular fossil remnant is that ancestor. Even in the public mind, studying human evolution seems to be this matter of going from 'missing' to 'found' links" (2001:1). However, the likelihood of finding such a "missing link" are remote, but comparison in the fossil record allow scientists to evaluate the amounts and kinds of morphological differences that have existed among related biological organisms (Oxnard 1987)."

Tags:biology, evolution, homo, sapiens, species, genetic, analysis, genomes, identical, mammalian, ancestry

Abstract
This paper examines the similarities and differences of chimpanzee and human DNA, using an exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History as a springboard for the discussion. Chimpanzees and bonobos, another form of ape, are described as humans' closest living relatives, and thus their DNA is very similar. Despite this, the paper states that some of the genes between the species although the same, are used differently in the chimp as they are in humans, and so, they create more differences between us. Research is cited which contends that humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor, and that shows in our DNA.

From the Paper
"The exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History talks about the similarities between humans and chimps, and helps explain why we are so similar. The website notes, "Human and chimp DNA is so similar because the two species are so closely related. Humans, chimps and bonobos descended from a single ancestor species that lived six or seven million years ago" (Editors). In fact, it is the slow evolution of change between human DNA and chimp DNA that accounts for the differences between the two species today. When you look at the chromosomes of each species side by side, they look remarkably alike, and that shows how close they really are."

Tags:genes, DNA, chimpanzees, humans, evolution

From the Paper
"The purpose of this paper will be to discuss chimpanzees. The scope of the research will include discussions of the terminology of the species, their behavior, feeding patterns, habitat, tool usage, mental capacity, communication abilities, and societal behavior. Further, the report will include a review of the anthropological studies that have been undertaken of chimpanzees with particular emphasis on Jane Goodall's landmark research, with a quick note related to Mr. Larson's cartoon. Lastly, a brief look of how chimpanzees are viewed on the world market today will be presented.


"Living apes and humans and certain fossil forms belong to the superfamily Hominoidea of the suborder Anthropoidea of the order primates" (Tuttle, 1986, p. 1). 'Anthropoid' means man-like. During the early part of the century the term "ape" was..."

Abstract
The paper describes the ongoing interest to chimpanzee's language ability, although they are a largely non-verbal species, who communicate by way of gestures. The paper explains that efforts to teach chimpanzees to speak, as they are almost 100 per cent genetically similar to Homo sapiens, are hoped to produce knowledge of human language acquisition, in the beginning and subjects of language development.

From the Paper
"Marcel Danesi summarized post-World War II efforts to teach chimpanzees to speak, led by the 1960s research of Allen and Beatrix Gardner of the University of Nevada, that centered on their female subject "Washoe" which commenced when the chimpanzee was almost one year of age. (2004: 42, Gardner:1975) Washoe proved capable of using 132 signs of American Sign Language (ASL) within five years. Moreover, Washoe could combine signs to express sets of syntactic relations. The same was accomplished by four other chimpanzees taught ASL that, along with Washoe, were analyzed by Roger S. Fouts. (1996)"

Tags:anthropology, linguistics, primates

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."

Tags:allen, ann, beatrice, bonobo, chimpanzee, david, fouts, francine, gardner, gorilla, herbert, koko, language, lyn, miles, orangutan, patterson, penny, premack, primate, roger, rumbaugh, savage, sign, sue, terrace

Abstract
This paper answers questions on two articles: "Chimpanzee Dropping Lead scientists to Evolutionary Discovery," and "Antibiotics That Resist Resistance."

From the Paper
"Dr. Hahn is interested in the contents of the fecal pellets because they will show what the chimpanzees have been eating. As omnivores, they eat berries and vegetation but sometimes band together to kill and eat monkeys. The fecal pellets will indicate whether they have been eating alone or killing in bands. The social structure of the chimpanzee community might influence what is contained in the fecal matter because..."

Tags:chimpanzee, droppings, SIV, HIV, antibiotic, multi-drug resistance

Abstract
This paper summarizes the book "The Third Chimpanzee" by Jared Diamond, a book on human evolution both physical and cultural which carries human evolution from the earliest beginnings to the present day.

Abstract
This paper presents various opinions, which state that chimpanzees possess very similar intelligence capabilities to humans and that they need to be studied further in order to gage the extent of their skills.

From the Paper
"In conclusion, the intelligence of chimpanzees can be demonstrated by addressing five specific conditions. First, language research has shown that chimpanzees can learn to use words and symbols in order to make contact with humans (some can also use numbers quite effectively); second, they have the capacity to create and utilize tools in order to obtain food and in some instances as weapons in aggressive situations; third, chimpanzees are highly skilled at hunting where cooperation between individuals is a necessity; fourth, they are obviously fully aware of their own existence and are capable of playing tricks; and lastly, they are excellent problem-solvers and can use their brain power in cognitive ways, all of which proves that chimpanzees are indeed intelligent which makes them one of the most fascinating creatures on the planet to study and at times revere."

Tags:skill