NIM CHIMPSKY
Name: Nim Chimpsky
Born: November 19, 1973
Died: March 10, 2000
Nim Chimpsky (November 19, 1973 - March 10, 2000) was a chimpanzee who was the
subject of an extended study of animal language acquisition (codenamed 6.001) at
Columbia University, led by Herbert S. Terrace.
The validity of the study is the subject of dispute, as Terrace argued that all
ape-language studies, including Project Nim, were based on misinformation--from
the chimps. Roger Fouts did a similar study known as Project Washoe, in which
the chimpanzee was also raised like a human child. Washoe was given affection
and participated in everyday social activity with her family. Her ability to
communicate was not far more developed than Nim's. Nim lived 24 hrs a day with
his human family from birth; Washoe had spent her first 10 months in a research
lab prior to being moved to a language study. But both chimps could use sign
language to make themselves understood.
Name: Nim Chimpsky
Born: November 19, 1973
Died: March 10, 2000
Nim Chimpsky (November 19, 1973 - March 10, 2000) was a chimpanzee who was the
subject of an extended study of animal language acquisition (codenamed 6.001) at
Columbia University, led by Herbert S. Terrace.
The validity of the study is the subject of dispute, as Terrace argued that all
ape-language studies, including Project Nim, were based on misinformation--from
the chimps. Roger Fouts did a similar study known as Project Washoe, in which
the chimpanzee was also raised like a human child. Washoe was given affection
and participated in everyday social activity with her family. Her ability to
communicate was not far more developed than Nim's. Nim lived 24 hrs a day with
his human family from birth; Washoe had spent her first 10 months in a research
lab prior to being moved to a language study. But both chimps could use sign
language to make themselves understood.