英语论文网

而且,黑猩猩都是 “双语” 动物,他们能够把简单的言语翻译成体语(Shaw , 1989 - 1990) 。
还有,另外三只黑猩猩 Lana , Sherman 和 Austin 学会了用计算机键盘相互交流。它们用键盘相互找不同的食物和取食的工具(Rumbaugh & Savage - Rumbaugh , 1986) 。印象最深刻的是 Savage - Rumbaugh等人(1993)发现小黑猩猩还能理解英语口语的细微意义差别。虽然小黑猩猩 Kanzi 的英语语法只相当于两岁半的水平但是能够根据要求做好该做的事情。真不简单,因为它所听到的那些英语口语也不容易:Can you show methe light ? Can you bring me the flashlight ? 或 Can you turn thelight on ?而且 Kanzi 还懂得其他不少的词汇,如 snake , bite 和dog等等。正如人的幼年时期对其语言发展非常重要一样,对黑猩猩来说,出生以后的头几年是关键的几年。如同成年人难以学到地道的外语一样,如果没有足够的语言环境和词汇符号,黑猩猩的语言能力也难以达到理想的水平。
由此可见,尽管黑猩猩通过驯养以后的语言水平与人的标准相比还有很大的差距,但是它们的那种令人难忘的认知能力与人相比的确弱不了多少。它们如果有与人相同的声道系统就一定能够顺利地与人交流。动物研究足以帮助人类更好地了解动物,更多地尊重所有动物,包括动物园的动物在内。
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