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Author (up) Lyn, H.
Title Mental representation of symbols as revealed by vocabulary errors in two bonobos (Pan paniscus) Type Journal Article
Year 2007 Publication Animal Cognition Abbreviated Journal Anim. Cogn.
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Abstract Error analysis has been used in humans to detect implicit representations and categories in language use. The present study utilizes the same technique to report on mental representations and categories in symbol use from two bonobos (Pan paniscus). These bonobos have been shown in published reports to comprehend English at the level of a two-and-a-half year old child and to use a keyboard with over 200 visuographic symbols (lexigrams). In this study, vocabulary test errors from over 10 years of data revealed auditory, visual, and spatio-temporal generalizations (errors were more likely items that looked like sounded like, or were frequently associated with the sample item in space or in time), as well as hierarchical and conceptual categorizations. These error data, like those of humans, are a result of spontaneous responding rather than specific training and do not solely depend upon the sample mode (e.g. auditory similarity errors are not universally more frequent with an English sample, nor were visual similarity errors universally more frequent with a photograph sample). However, unlike humans, these bonobos do not make errors based on syntactical confusions (e.g. confusing semantically unrelated nouns), suggesting that they may not separate syntactical and semantic information. These data suggest that apes spontaneously create a complex, hierarchical, web of representations when exposed to a symbol system.
Address Language Research Center, Georgia State University, 3401 Panthersville Rd, Atlanta, GA, 30034, USA
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Language English Summary Language Original Title
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ISSN 1435-9448 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:17436026 Approved no
Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2406
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Author (up) Lyn, H.; Savage-Rumbaugh, E.S.
Title Observational word learning in two bonobos (Pan paniscus): ostensive and non-ostensive contexts Type Journal Article
Year 2000 Publication Language & Communication Abbreviated Journal
Volume 20 Issue 3 Pages 255-273
Keywords Language acquisition; Bonobo; Fast mapping
Abstract Word learning has been extensively studied in humans. Children seem to be able to map new words onto objects with only one exposure to the referent. This ability has been called “fast mapping”(Carey, 1978 and Carey). Using a modified human paradigm, this paper explores two language-competent bonobos' (Pan paniscus) abilities to map new words to objects in realistic surroundings with few exposures to the referents. This paper also investigates the necessity of the apes maintaining visual contact (ostensive context) with the item to map the novel name onto the novel object. The bonobos tested in this experiment were able to map new words onto objects and could do so without visual contact with the items.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 4675
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Author (up) Sickler, J.; Fraser, J.; Webler, T.; Reiss, D.; Boyle, P.; Lyn, H.; Lemcke, K.; Gruber, S.
Title Social Narratives Surrounding Dolphins: Q Method Study Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Society and Animals Abbreviated Journal
Volume 14 Issue Pages 351-382
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Call Number refbase @ user @ Serial 3431
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