Anthropology

Anthropology

A Conversation with Koko

1.   In the lecture notes, you will find a comparison to human and animal communication systems.   Do you see any examples that might blur the lines between these distinct differences?   Do Koko or Michael demonstrate any of these human traits even though they do not use a spoken language?

A.   Conventionality:   the ability to recombine sound and recognize that an object, idea, or action can be referred to using many different sounds (dog, perro (Spanish), chien (French), kutta (hindu). Humans have the ability, animals do not
Koko recognized her mate on a video, or she recognized the fact that she was caring for her cat.


B.   Productivity: ability to combine sounds and words to form NEW meanings, which increases the flexibility of the human language. Increases the ability to transmit information. Animals lack this ability
- Koko shared her thoughts through productivity. Koko used sign language and she can also understand English.


C.   Displacement: Ability to communicate about something that is not present (hypothetical or abstract thoughts). In general, animals only convey thoughts regarding the present and immediate environment.  

-koko shared her feelings when the cat died by sign language. She signed, cry, frown, etc… when she also saw the baby, she signed that she wants a baby too.


2.   During what life stage does Koko learn GSL?   When she was 5 years old.


3.   How many words does Koko sign?
  -200 signs, after few years it doubled.


4.   What do you think about the cognitive ability of Michael and Koko?

I thought it was very interesting how Koko was not ready to share her life with Michael, and it took them awhile to get along, and finally adopt to each other. It was really sad when they told koko that the cat has died, I didn’t think that gorillas have the cognitive ability to feel emotions. It was also amazing that they believed that if koko has a baby, it will make her happy. Since Michael...