Savage-RumbaughCore

CORE STUDY

Complete the multiple choice testIdentify any areas of difficulty based on

homework

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986) Spontaneous symbol acquisition and communicative use by pygmy chimpanzees

Research question: Can Kanzi learn symbolic language without training in the same way children do?

Method: Case Study - longitudinal designThe report of Kanzi’s language development

(the findings) is described as ‘serendipitous’ - occurred by happy chance

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

The participant: KANZI born 28/10/80 in captivity, his mother was a

‘language chimp’ Assigned to the language research centre at 6 months &

reared in a language using environment with humans When 2.5 yrs old it was observed that he was using

symbols spontaneously (perhaps because he had observed his mother)

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

Serendipitous observationKanzibegan to use symbols without training

after he was separated from his motheridentified symbols correctly and did not

confuse them (e.g. apple, orange, banana)understood spoken words

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

The visual symbol systemIndoors: battery powered keyboard with

geometric symbols that brighten when touched, then speech synthesiser ‘speaks’ the word

Outdoors: copy of keyboard as laminated pointing board

each symbol called a lexigram

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

Kanzi’s outdoor environment55 acres forest; 17 food locations; must travel

to ‘get food’ each location for a specific food type e.g. bananas to treehouse, peaches to lookout

Kanzi learned where all the food was locatedcould select a food from photos on the ground

and could guide another person to his chosen location

learned to use the symbols on the keyboard to indicate where he wanted to go

Quick check

Is this language?

Why yes?

Why no?

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

Longitudinal case study - data collectionrecords kept of Kanzi’s language

development (symbol use) for 17 months from the age of 2 1/2 computerised records from keyboardnotes from observers when outside

Kanzi and Mulika (pygmy chimps)Sherman and Austin (‘normal’ chimps)

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

Longitudinal case studyThe data (assessing Kanzi’s symbol use)correct or incorrectspontaneousimitationstructured (e.g. responds to question)also behavioural concordance (agreement)e.g. if request to ‘go to treehouse’ led a person

to the treehouse

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)CONTROLanalysis of videotape against real time

coding of symbol use by 2 observers1 scored real time, 1 scored tape, real

time observer did not know the record would

be used for reliability check100% agreement on correct vs incorrect

use of symbols1 disagreement over spontaneous use

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)Results

D

A

B

F

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)Results2530 correct combinationsmany were ‘two foods’e.g. hotdog & coke 265 imitated

person (g) chase Kanzi’ person (g) chase person (g)

g = gesture to indicate ‘who’ indicates structure dependence / correct syntax

Example combinations

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)Testing Kanzigiven lexigram and/or

photoasked to match to objectalso match to spoken

Englishsee example list

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

Kanzi: comparison of imitated or spontaneous to ‘other ape learners’

Savage-Rumbaugh et al (1986)

ConclusionKanzi learned to use the symbols

spontaneouslyCompared to other species of chimps pygmy

chimpanzees appear to be able to learn and use language more like a human child

Kanzi & the language universals? semanticity - YES; creativity - YES; structure dependence - YES; Generalisation - YES; Displacement - YES

In pairs – you have 20 minutes to prepare a news item/short ‘documentary’ on Kanzi – please write this up and we will record.

Based on my summary and your homework:

Section A practice and peer assessment

January 2011In Savage-Rumbaugh What were the names of the two pygmy chimpanzees? (2)Explain why these pygmy chimpanzees may not have been representative of their own species. (2) June 2011In Savage-RumbaughDescribe two of the formal tests conducted by Savage-Rumbaugh to assess Kanzi’s language acquisition. (4) January 2012 In Savage-RumbaughDescribe how Kanzi and Mulika’s symbol use was classified. (4)

15 minutes