I actually sat and watched the whole thing. It's really incredible. I worked at CWU's Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute for a while, so this was very interesting. It's such important research, I think, so that we understand that the gap between what is human and what is "animal" is smaller than what everyone realizes. Thanks for posting it!
It was during 2004 and 2005, in between my study abroad trips. Since my service there was so intermittent I didn't get past being a presenter's aide, but I got to sit in on a lot of the chimposiums which I enjoyed! It's really neat work that goes on there, and I was really shocked and saddened when I heard that Washoe died.
I think that some dogs can understand human language, too. I think they respond better to physical gestures, yet they do react to certain words and sentences. For instance, you tell my mother's dog "go get your toy" without moving or changing your voice - and he will get his toy. My mother's dog expects a present when others get one, too.
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Yah that was hard seeing as my group was the last group of apprentices to see her alive.
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