UM-Bot Posted February 9, 2015 #1 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Researchers have identified the first ever case of animals actively modifying their use of language. A group of chimpanzees from the Netherlands that were brought to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland astonished animal behavior experts when it was discovered that they had adopted the local lingo. Read More: http://www.unexplain...scottish-accent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+joc Posted February 9, 2015 #2 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Totally ridiculous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterMan Posted February 9, 2015 #3 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Totally ridiculous! I'll bite. Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+joc Posted February 9, 2015 #4 Share Posted February 9, 2015 It is not news that animals mimic other animals. Put a chimpanzee from Africa amongst chimpanzees from any other place on earth...of course they will modify their audible tones. That is not what is ridiculous. What is ridiculous is the headline. What is ridiculous is the whole idea that this is scientific earth shattering news. It isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Chubb Posted February 9, 2015 #5 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) I'll bite. Why? You saved me from biting... Edit: Cheers Joc. But your comment was just as abstract as the articles title was 'ridiculous'. Edited February 9, 2015 by Junior Chubb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted February 9, 2015 #6 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) It is not news that animals mimic other animals. Put a chimpanzee from Africa amongst chimpanzees from any other place on earth...of course they will modify their audible tones. That is not what is ridiculous. What is ridiculous is the headline. What is ridiculous is the whole idea that this is scientific earth shattering news. It isn't. I don't believe the article, nor the study, are meant to present "earth-shattering news" but to provide further evidence as to how close chimpanzees are to humans in behaviour. After all, we [humans] also 'mimic' dialect (and other animals' vocalisations) when located amongst those who vocalise differently to our 'native' vocalisations. Edited February 9, 2015 by Leonardo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ealdwita Posted February 9, 2015 #7 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Take a walk (stealthily) down Sauchiehall Street on any Saturday night and you can observe the reverse happening! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imaginarynumber1 Posted February 9, 2015 #8 Share Posted February 9, 2015 It is not news that animals mimic other animals. Put a chimpanzee from Africa amongst chimpanzees from any other place on earth...of course they will modify their audible tones. That is not what is ridiculous. What is ridiculous is the headline. What is ridiculous is the whole idea that this is scientific earth shattering news. It isn't. It shows a form of proto-cultural behavior. Not all primates would do the same. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdesert50 Posted February 9, 2015 #9 Share Posted February 9, 2015 The need to obtain food is a powerful motivator for adaptation. One only has to observe the family cat adapt behaviors to motivate you to feed him. Success favors those who observe and adapt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundew Posted February 9, 2015 #10 Share Posted February 9, 2015 How do you yell "FREEDOM!" in Chimp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CelticBanshee Posted February 9, 2015 #11 Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) Sure aren't they just studying the past when they study this behavior in chimps? Since we're primates, this is maybe an insight into how we evolved to where we are today. Edited February 10, 2015 by CelticBanshee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+joc Posted February 10, 2015 #12 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Sure aren't they just studying the past when they study this behavior in chimps? Since we're primates, this is maybe an insight into how we evolved to where we are today. No. Because the chimps have evolved as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlitterRose Posted February 10, 2015 #13 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Bahahahahahaha!!!! That rocks. I think someone must have told them that they are 98% human. At least they aren't depressed over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imaginarynumber1 Posted February 10, 2015 #14 Share Posted February 10, 2015 No. Because the chimps have evolved as well. Incorrect. About the no,part, not the evolved part. Sure aren't they just studying the past when they study this behavior in chimps? Since we're primates, this is maybe an insight into how we evolved to where we are today. Correct. Humans and the African apes share an ancestor about 7 to 8 million years ago (Possibly longer. We need more fossils). While we have both diverged from that ancestral primate, we are still very similar. All the great apes (and most catarrhines) have complex social systems, use tools and some live in environments that may have been analogous to where our ancestors started walking upright and growing bigger brains. But not only that, by studying non human primates we can even see the what beginnings of language may have looked like, and more excitingly, culture as well. There is so much we can learn about ourselves and our history from our hairy cousins. It would be a shame if they aren't around for long enough to teach us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skep B Posted February 10, 2015 #15 Share Posted February 10, 2015 When the chimps start rockin' kilts then I'll be interested. and thoroughly delighted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atuke Posted February 11, 2015 #16 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I've hiked, camped, studied and lived throughout the northeastern US and I can confirm that male Cardinals have different calls and songs in different areas. Males in PA have totally different calls and "accents" than those in New Hampshire. Are these regional differences in bird language from the same specie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now