this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2025
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Is this true? I was listening to a lecture of I think it was a linguist on apes using sign language, saying that the evidence for them actually understanding language is... not great. Like it appear they just sign until their carers gets the right/expected answer. That they may want to say 'apple', but not finding the word, they can't describe the shape, color, just random words util they hit the correct one, or something like that.
Afaik yes, although I remember reading that (I think) Koko sort of asked something (I think it was "what color" or something like that). But at the same time I remember reading about similar criticism you mentioned, that Koko's signs were often quite random and the caretakers often tried to make fun of the situation that "she's just joking".
I should find that article ...
Edit: I don't know if it was exactly this artice but it was similar
https://bigthink.com/life/ape-sign-language/
Edit 2: or this
https://slate.com/technology/2014/08/koko-kanzi-and-ape-language-research-criticism-of-working-conditions-and-animal-care.html
Yes, that is the one! Koko and "just joking" I recognize from that lecture.
Longest non-human primate sentence on record:
That is pretty impressive. Where is it from?
I'm pretty sure that was Bukowski
Not asshole enough for him
NO, baaaaad ape. Me better you no good. I win you lose whyareyoulikethis. No. bad ape. Existence is suffering.
Like that?
Pelcan mouth is good place for baby Put baby Pelican mouth now
Proving that Trump supporters don't count as human.
That's just not true. Most of them simply aren't interested in communicating with humans, they just care about the reward
That's what made Koko special. She was interested in communicating with humans, and her conversations were wild. It got existential
You have a severe case of anthropomorphizing animals plus a stark lack of education on animal behavioral sciences. You have zero idea what you're talking about.
Koko's "conversations" were gibberish that the scientists conducting the experiments interpreted with extreme bias. They wanted there to be meaning in what the gorilla was doing so they over-interpreted it as if there was. It was a heavily flawed experiment.
Bullshit. You just don't speak any animal language
I can tell you what a dog is thinking at any given moment. They're so expressive I can dictate it in real time. They tell you where and how they want to be pet, they can understand time and remember names
Koko was barely special. She spoke a form of sign language, and she enjoyed interspecies communication enough to devote time towards it. That's what is rare
Do you understand how much more they'll have to say when we crack their language? Because it's coming
Lol. You are like the epitome of the Dunning-Kruger effect. It's amazing how confident you are in your ignorance.