8. The Infant Loulis Learns Signs from Cross-Fostered Chimpanzees

Abstract

In October 1970, Roger Fouts brought Washoe to the Institute for Primate Studies (IPS), University of Oklahoma, where he had been appointed as Research Associate. The University of Oklahoma maintained a colony of 18 chimpanzees at IPS, and Fouts planned to continue the research with Washoe there, with new objectives and new questions. Would Washoe sign to the other chimpanzees? If Washoe signed to them, what would she sign? Would the other chimpanzees learn signs, either from human caregivers or from Washoe herself? The long range goal of the continuation of Project Washoe was to explore the cultural transmission of ASL: Would Washoe pass on her signing skills to an offspring? Washoe at Oklahoma