60 VOICE AND "language" OF CHIMPANZEES 



principal sounds made by the adult chimpanzees at the New 

 York Zoological Park were noted. These are reported 

 briefly for comparison with the vocalizations of the young 

 animals. 



The description assumes that the reader is familiar with 

 simple musical notation, yet one who knows only the most 

 common signs, such as the dynamic marks, the staccato and 

 legato symbols, and the rhythmic value of notes and rests, 

 can appreciate most of what is recorded. Bar-lines indicate 

 pauses of varying length. 



As the observations covered a period of several weeks, a 

 continuous story was impracticable. The episodes, however, 

 are in general consecutive, especially those dealing with food, 

 and they have been selected from an abundance of records as 

 either typical or significant because of the circumstances. 



Various minor difficulties appeared in connection with 

 descriptive nomenclature. Chim's "whine," for example, is 

 not necessarily complaining. Yet the term "whine" seemed 

 best to describe these unvocalized tones. 



Although the young chimpanzee uses significant sounds in 

 considerable number and variety, it does not, in the ordinary 

 and proper meaning of the term, speak. Consequently there 

 is no chimpanzee language, although there certainly is a 

 useful substitute which might readily be developed or trans- 

 formed into a true language if the animals could be induced to 

 imitate sounds persistently. 



