Signing Chimps: Teaching Chimpanzees to Speak Using American Sign Language

        Have you ever wanted to speak to another species? It may be impossible to speak to them in English or a foreign language, but we have learned that it is possible to communicate with chimpanzees using American Sign Language (ASL)
        In the book Next of Kin: My Conversations With Chimpanzees, by Roger Fouts, we learn about communicating to Chimpanzees through ASL. The book focuses on Roger's experience with the chimp, Washoe, and her family. We learn about awful primate research(Please note: This video is quite disturbing. Do not watch if you are easily upset by animal abuse) labs and the way chimps are treated there.

Washoe

        Roger first meets Washoe at the Gardner's home. The Gardners were conducting a research project on teaching chimps ASL. Roger, a graduate student at the time, was to help them teach Washoe ASL. Once Gardners decided to end project Washoe, they sent her to the University of Oklahoma They wanted someone to go with Washoe, and that someone was Roger. It was at the University where we learn the reality of primate research labs. After living at the University for many years, Washoe, her chimp family, and Roger's family, moved to Washington where they were housed and funded by the Central Washington University.
         I really liked the story of Washoe and her family although I felt like there were unnecessary parts. There were times where the book could go onto subjects that were not immediately relevant to Washoe's story. The parts about Washoe and her family were extremely interesting. I would recommend this book because the story was so interesting and I learned a lot from it.

To watch a video of Washoe signing, click here or here.

  

Roger Fouts and Washoe