But intonation is an important part of language. Try announcing to your family, in a monotone voice, that the house is on fire. No one will move. That s because the words mean nothing without pertinent intonation. Human babies learn to process not just words, but accompanying gestures, expressions, intonation, and environmental cues.
Appropriate response is the usual measure of effective communication.
Since the apes seem to be doing this, the Chomskyites have yet to prove they re not learning language. In fact, some comprehend language amazingly well. Kanzi , a keyboard chimp, actually acquired his first skills while researchers struggled unsuccessfully to teach his mother. After months of silent observation, Kanzi grabbed a keyboard and hasn t shut up since. Tellingly, the apes skills flower under optimum conditions for human acquisition, i.e., among young subjects in an unstructured environment.