Language
Dr. Francine Neago carried out a study with the University of California (UCLA) between the years 1980 to 1992. It was the first language programme using special spelling on a computer with an orangutan named ‘Bulan’.
The scientific world is expecting the continuation of this study, as it has brought new light to the debate of teaching language to primates. Theses studies on cognition processes have already induced several methods of teaching human children with learning disabilities in the American educational system.
These contributions have had a positive impact on many different scientific fields such as psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, zoology and ethology.
The process of learning language forms one aspect of the larger research concerning Hominidae (humans) and Pongidae (great apes), both belonging to the Humanoids group.
The continuation of this language programme will bring a new dimension to the discussion of primate language and human learning, in addition to providing invaluable data for research into the learning of language in disabled children.
After spending 40 years of my life studying and caring for orangutans and other animals, I am very aware that the current methods of animal protection are not working as expected. We need to understand and appreciate their intelligence, sensitivity and awareness enough to restrain us from harming them directly by overconsumption or indirectly by the destruction of their natural habitat.
I passionately believe that this language programme will contribute to mankind’s change of attitude. As people become more empathetic towards wildlife and their habitat, we hope to see a reduction in the risk of extinction, without having to rely solely on law enforcement measures.
Methodology
- Teaching an ape understanding of English
- Teaching an ape phonetic spelling
- Teaching an ape to read and spell, using a specially designed computer
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Language Programme
First Stage (for orangutan baby)
23 letters in one or two letter words
I U = you N = no LV = love YS = yes KS = kiss KP = cup DU = do
BI = bye KT = cat MI = my
TY = toy BY = boy WK = walk ON = on KN = can WT = what
TK = talk HP = happy HT = hat
CZ = cheese FR = for YR = your DK = duck SK = sick
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Second Stage
23 letters in three letter words
TKL = tickle APL = apple OPN = open PLA = play BTL = bottle MLK = milk
ASK = ask KLS = close WNT = want MMA = mama MNK = monkey
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Sentences
MI KP = my cup I LV KT = I love cat I HP = I am happy U HG = you hug
I TKL U = I tickle you I HG U = I hug you
I KS U = I kiss you I LV U = I love you U LV TY? = You love toy?
DU U WNT HAT? = Do you want hat?
DU U WNT LV? = Do you want love? MR LV? = More love?
DU U WNT MLK? = Do you want milk?