It was thought that monkeys and chimpanzees were unable to use language as humans do because they do not have the required language centers in their brains. Tests on baboons turned this theory on its head. Monkeys learned the rules of words, for example consonants and vowels, so they could recognize real words in a bundle of made up nonsense.
Humans must first build up words from letters before they get meaning. We need to construct words as if they were tables and chairs, from the legs up.
Baboons were tested by encouraging them to "play" with computers. When they selected a real word they got wheat as a reward. Each computer had a cross and a circle so the baboons could show words and non-words by pressing either symbol. The words were only four uppercase letters long, but each baboon did up to 60,000 tests and they were 75 per cent correct. The best baboon learned 308 words
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