Communication and Language in the Home-Raised Chimpanzee

Abstract

Oral speech develops in the human infant as an outgrowth of his contact with older humans who are continuously using language. A deaf mute fails to speak because he never hears the acoustic patterns which make up words. He has no sound patterns to follow, no models to imitate. If the ear itself is functioning but the child is mentally retarded, he may be able to hear but not to imitate. Again, he does not learn to speak. A normal ear, a normal brain and speech organs, the continuous hearing of spoken language, and a great deal of imitation are necessary for the completion of the process.