Washoe Learned The Sign Language

(1) For years, scientists have attempted to teach animals to communicate, but for the most part, their efforts have failed. (2) In the 1950s, psychologists failed to teach a chimpanzee to speak, for the ape was able to grunt only a few words. (3) In the 1960s, however, a chimp named Washoe learned the sign language of the deaf. (4) Washoe came to understand hundreds of words, and he used them to communicate and express original ideas. (5) As it turns out, the great apes have the capacity to learn language, but they cannot speak. (6) This research proved that humans are not the only animals capable of using language; however, they are the most sophisticated users of
language.