Document Detail


Two mathematically defined expressive language structures in humans and chimpanzees.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8645135     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Two expressive language structures have been identified mathematically in humans and chimpanzees. The first was found by measuring the waiting times between the invocation of new words or symbols, which consistently yielded individually characteristic rate constants and descending exponential curves that reflect a stochastically lawful Poisson process. The second was discovered by calculating the cumulative informational complexity (entropy) of word usage, which in all cases was a deterministically lawful logarithmic function of the number of words used to a given point in a communicative sequence. Individual and species differences in how this law is obeyed also characterized the sample. The results from the apes resembled those from the works of human poets like Shakespeare. The findings speak for deep, natural, unlearned expressive language structures in apes that are comparable to those seen in humans.
Authors:
R Langs; A F Badalamenti; S Savage-Rumbaugh
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Behavioral science     Volume:  41     ISSN:  0005-7940     ISO Abbreviation:  Behav Sci     Publication Date:  1996 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-07-16     Completed Date:  1996-07-16     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2984722R     Medline TA:  Behav Sci     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  124-35     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, N.Y., USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Models, Theoretical*
Pan troglodytes
Semantics
Species Specificity
Speech Acoustics
Verbal Behavior*
Vocalization, Animal*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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