The era of Planet of the Apes is approaching.
Researchers have discovered speech patterns in Gorillas that have been previously thought impossible.
A Gorilla named KoKo has been found to make repeated examples of nine different, voluntary behaviors that required control over her vocalization and breathing.
Koko lives at the University of Wisconsin Madison and is famous for her ability to communicate with researchers using American Sign Language and she is now showing signs of being able to create speech.
Traditionally it has been believed that speech was impossible for apes and their noise was limited to involuntary noises made in reaction to their environment such as being scared.
According to researchers Koko can do things very close to speaking
She doesn’t produce a pretty, periodic sound when she performs these behaviors, like we do when we speak,”reaseacher Marcus Perlman says. “But she can control her larynx enough to produce a controlled grunting sound.”
Koko can also cough on command — not particularly groundbreaking human behavior, but impressive for a gorilla because it requires her to close off her larynx.
Well done Koko, don’t you just want to pat her on the back and give her a nice leaf?
Hat-tip to the Independent
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