Question

Koko the gorilla was trained by Francine Patterson to use sign language. The Gorilla language Project reports that Koko can use 1000 different signs, and can understand 2000 words. Koko is now creating statements by blending three to six words.

Answer 1

Language is one of the most unique things that distinguishes human beings from other creatures. Language needs thinking and it’s also unique to human beings. Other creatures cannot think on their own because they act on their instinct and not on their planning. So, teaching the language to animals through sign language is possible but animals using language on their own is really rare and we can’t generalize that all the animals can do this or all the animals have this ability. It’s like training any other animals in the circus to perform certain acts and this is similar to it. Through conditioning, all the creatures can be trained and made to perform certain acts including sing language.