Abstract
Results from the ape language projects can be interpreted as revealing cognitive abilities. Some of the work begins to deal with the issue of meaning. Does the ape use individual lexical items in “word-like,” conceptual ways, and can he combine the words in meaningful ways, utilizing some simple grammatical rules? The distinction is raised between the animal’s “knowing how” to obtain a reward through instrumental learning and “knowing that” he is requesting a reward. An intensional analysis of meaning, a logical analysis describing the complexity of mental states, is also suggested as an alternative approach. Are the apes engaged in intentional (purposeful) communication? Experiments on deception begin to investigate that issue. Observations from field research may suggest fruitful improvements of ape language studies.
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© 1982 Dr. S. Bernhard, Dahlem Konferenzen, Berlin
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Ristau, C.A., Robbins, D. (1982). Cognitive Aspects of Ape Language Experiments. In: Griffin, D.R. (eds) Animal Mind — Human Mind. Life Sciences Research Reports, vol 21. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68469-2_16
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