Do the following traits/ behaviors best characterize humans, chimps, or both?

Can learn sign language
[ Select ]
Humans
Chimps
Both

Question

Do the following traits/ behaviors best characterize humans, chimps, or both?

Can learn sign language 
[ Select ]
Humans
Chimps
Both

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Here we examine the trait "Can learn sign language" in relation to humans, chimps, or both.
Option: Humans — In humans, sign language is a natural and fully developed mode of communication, with a long history and complex grammar. Humans learn and use sign language widely as a primary or supplemental language, so this statement is consistent with human capabilities.
Option: Chimps — Chimpanzees have been taught sign language or sign-like systems in experimental settings, demonstrating that they can learn some signs and use them to communicate intent or desires. However, the extent, consistency, and sophistication of sign language use in chimps are generally considered more limited compared to humans, and debates exist about whether it truly qualifies as language in the human sense.
Option: Both — Given that humans clearly can learn sign language, and chimpanzees can acquire some signs and use them to communicate, this trait can be attributed to both species in the sense of learned sign communication, though the depth and structural complexity differ.
Note on the provided answer options: The prompt’s list of answer choices is not shown here, so I am analyzing the likely set (Humans, Chimps, Both) based on the statement. If the options were limited to only Humans or only Chimps, the conclusion would depend on whether we require full natural language fluency or any demonstrable capability to sign; in that broader sense, both species show the capability, but to varying degrees. The key idea is that learning and using sign language is not exclusive to one species and reflects differing levels of linguistic complexity and social use.
In summary, the trait aligns with humans due to full-fledged sign languages, and with chimps due to demonstrable, though narrower, sign use; thus, this feature can be attributed to both, with caveats about depth of linguistic structure.

ANTH 1050-090 Fall 2025 Exam 2

Do the following traits/ behaviors best characterize humans, chimps, or both? Can learn sign language [ Select ] Humans Chimps Both

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