Lead
Scientists have also tried to get chimpanzees to speak, but these attempts have failed, and chimpanzees do not communicate like humans, and they have another way of communicating.
As a result, scientists no longer forced chimpanzees to communicate, but chose to communicate with chimpanzees in the same way as they did, and scientists began to learn how chimpanzees gestured and found that they were also very good at guiding humans in a direction.
How do they communicate?
Why can't chimpanzees speak and connect with humans?
Scientists train chimpanzees in language.
There is an intimate connection between chimpanzees and humans, and 96% of the human genome is derived from chimpanzees, but that doesn't mean that chimpanzees can speak like humans.
Even though they are 96% genetically active, their language skills are still not as strong as those of humans, which is also quite surprising to scientists, and scientists have gone to great lengths to make chimpanzees able to speak.
In 1976, scientists trained a female chimpanzee named "Watts", who was born in the wild, so they still have the habit of living in the wild during the training process.
The scientists chose a couple to use for Watts' language training, and no one expected that by the second year, Watts would be able to communicate in simple language, reaching the level of an adult about 3 years old.
In 1998, scientists gave language training to a male chimpanzee, a male named "Shaanxi", who was born in Sichuan and is also known as "Sichuan orangutan".
During the training of this chimpanzee, it was also able to understand simple language.
However, the difference between this language training and the previous one is that Watts only had children born to the husband and wife when the language training was carried out, so only the husband and wife trained Watts.
Compared with Watts, the Sichuan ape can speak a richer language, but this chimpanzee does not have as deep feelings for people as Watts, but it has made great progress in language.
During the training of Sichuan apes, scientists also found some problems: it turned out that the reason why chimpanzees do not speak fluently is because their physiological structure limits their articulation mechanism.
Physiology of chimpanzees.
There are certain differences between the physiological structure of chimpanzees and the physiological structure of humans, so there are also obvious differences in the mechanism of pronunciation.
The human vocal mechanism is mainly the result of the interaction between the tongue and the mouth, and the shape of the tongue and the position of the mouth are highly compatible, so that it can produce clear and smooth sounds.
In contrast, chimpanzees' vocalization mechanisms rely heavily on their throat and nasal cavity, which are produced by vibrating in the throat and the nasal cavity that acts as a resonance.
There is a clear difference between the pronunciation mechanisms of chimpanzees and those of humans.
Humans have comparatively longer and thicker vocal cords, which gives them richer speech expressions.
In contrast, chimpanzees have shorter and thinner vocal cords, and their vocalizations are relatively monolithic and lack the richness of speech intonation.
In addition, the shape of the human mouth is unique, which favors the production of clear consonants and vowels, while the shape of the chimpanzee's mouth is more suitable for producing simple sounds and lacks the ability to articulate clearly.
The structure of the human brain is also more complex than that of chimpanzees, with certain areas of the brain specialized in language processing, which allows them to understand and use complex syntax, grammar, and vocabulary.
The chimpanzee's brain is similarly intelligent, but its structure is relatively simple, with no area dedicated to processing language, and can only handle simpler forms of communication.
The human auditory system also plays an important role in the ability to speak, as humans are able to discern subtle differences in tone and understand different meanings.
Chimpanzees have a relatively weak auditory system and a low sensitivity to tones, resulting in their inability to understand and use complex language.
The vocal characteristics of chimpanzees are significantly different from the way humans communicate in language.
Chimpanzees convey information through a single sound like loud roaring, screaming, purring, etc., which are mainly used to express emotions, alarms, and simple needs.
Humans, on the other hand, use vocabulary, syntactic and grammatical structures to communicate complex information through their rich linguistic abilities.
Although chimpanzees are unable to speak like humans, they also show their intelligence in communicating with other orangutans.
Chimpanzees are able to communicate through a variety of ways, including facial expressions, body language, smells, and sounds.
For example, when a chimpanzee is in danger, they will scream and show a nervous posture to warn other orangutans.
In addition, chimpanzees are also able to convey friendly and intimate emotions through handshakes, hugs, and other physical contacts.
In summary, although chimpanzees are unable to speak, they still show intelligence and social skills in their own way of communicating.
Different species have different physiological structures and adaptations, which are the result of natural selection.
The way chimpanzees communicate with humans.
There is a certain communication barrier between humans and chimpanzees, as there are significant differences between human language and the way chimpanzees communicate.
However, scientists have found that chimpanzees are able to understand simple human language commands, such as "come here", "sit down", "eat", etc.
Studies have shown that chimpanzees have a relatively high cognitive capacity, they are able to learn some basic symbols and gestures, and they are able to perform simple logical reasoning.
This ability allows them to understand some of the changes in their surroundings, as well as the messages conveyed by humans.
But although chimpanzees are able to understand some of the instructions of human language, they are still unable to grasp complex syntactic and grammatical structures.
The reason is that chimpanzees have relatively weak cognitive abilities and brain structures that prevent them from processing and understanding complex verbal expressions.
In addition, human language is highly abstract, while chimpanzees are more inclined to understand the world through concrete experience.
For example, their understanding of concrete things such as food, habitat, and social relationships goes far beyond the understanding of abstract human concepts.
However, there is a form of communication called "sign language" where chimpanzees can express their needs and emotions through gestures.
Scientists have conducted an experiment in which a chimpanzee named "Mbiki" learned sign language and found that the chimpanzee was able to use gestures flexibly to express his intentions.
For example, Mbiki is able to use gestures to indicate requests such as "eat" and "go out to play".
This form of sign language communication is known as "Mbiki Sign Language" and has gained widespread attention and praise in the scientific community.
Although chimpanzees are unable to speak, their cognitive abilities and learning abilities allow them to communicate simply with humans.
This form of communication not only creates a closer connection between humans and chimpanzees, but also provides a valuable avenue for studying the intelligence and cognitive abilities of chimpanzees.
Whether through human language or sign language, chimpanzees are able to understand and communicate effectively between populations.
Their way of communicating is innate and does not need to follow human language standards.
Each creature has its own way of communicating, and humans should not demand and impose their own language standards on other creatures.
epilogue
Through the research and observation of scientists, we have learned why chimpanzees can't speak, and how they communicate with humans.
Chimpanzees have great potential to communicate, and they communicate with the world in their own way, showing intelligence and emotion.
We might as well be more understanding and tolerant, respect the unique way of communication of each creature, and cherish the interconnection and communication between humans and animals.
Only with respect and understanding can we better communicate with life in this world, and at the same time, we can have a more colorful world.