The Washington herald., 1909-06-20


versity of Chicago. who has spent years
in the jungl 8 Of Africa in an effort 10
master the language of monkeys, and
who occupies a steel cage there 70 protect
his life from the more vicious animals,
will. according 70 letter written to his
sister. Mrs. A. F. Welsh. Of Abingdon, re-
turn to this country in the spring. having
practically completed HIS work among the
monkey tribe. writes Joseph p. Watkins,
OF Richmond, in the New York Globe.
The latest triumph Of his novel pursuit
is the preparation OF a lexicon OF the
monkey language. BY means OF this lexi-
con It is calculated that any apt student
may soon acquire a knowledge OF mon
keys and their language. The lexicon. or
course. is not complete; Prof. Garner be-
ing sti1 engaged in the study Of certain
elusive sounds used by these animals in
their intercourse with each other.
Prof. Garner Is a native Of Sullivan
County. Tenn. His early life was spent in
two States. Some of his early school
mates still 1--we I'm Bristol. Va, and IN
Sullivan County, Tenn.
He recently wrote the following story
with reference TO his interesting investi-
gations-the letter having been sent TO
/ Mrs. Welsh from the French Congo. In
I Africa.
THE most satisfactory results that 7
have so far obtained IN all my researches
( in the speech Of monkeys. have found
In the study OF the nictitans species. No
doubt the many years that / have hith-
erto devoted 20 the subject have better
= qualified me for pursuing Il than ! was
al the beginning. and the unique cOndi-
tions under which I am now living con
/ duce 10 my success in the present in
stance
study Of Her speech.
Il have in my possession a young fe-
male OF this species (nictitaus). which I
have reared from early infancy. and from
which am daily gaining a clearer in
sight snto the speech and mental habits
Of her race: while IN the forest that sur
rounds my lonely abode are scores OF wild
monkeys OF the same species-au OF
which contribute 90 my progress Ia tie
study OF their speech
AT different times have owned three
different specimens OF this race. and from
time 70 time have had access 10 several
others belonging 20 other people: and
have long regarded them as one or the
most intelligent and one OF the most To-
quacious Of the guenOn group The speci-
men which l now have. however, appears
10 be above the average OF her tribe, az
. times evinc!ng an almost human-like IN
telligence. Il Is not az an probable that
she Is conscious OF my desire TO learn her
language or her thoughts, but she often
appears 20 be so.
During my meals habltually feed her
different kinds OF food. and. with the ex-
ception OF condiments. she partakes OF
every kind OF food on my meager biz OF
fare, including meats, cooked vegetables
Of sundry kinds. and fruits OF course.
there are certain articles of food that she
prefers 20 others. and her taste hke thar
Of human being. periodically changes.
so that she does not al all times prefer
the same things.
When she wants anything. however.
she announces the fact IN a clear and mel /
hhuous sound. which Is frequently and
sometimes energetically repeated II is /
not az all difficult 70 distinguish this from
the other sounds she utters on other oc-
casions- and Il IS not very dificuIr % imi- /
tate with the human voice II Is fairly I
well represented by the literal formula /
'QhuL' the COnsonant element verginE up- I
on a siblanJ and the vocal elements 7
blending into a sound resembling we
All -Nttlri4lAE AlAe SONAG INTO human I
speech the single word want is perhaps 4
the nearest equivalent. Although n OBJ I
Iquely implies the pronoun T.. Il cannot 4
be literally so translated. as the animal 4
concept does not involve any animal adj 4
Junct or Infection. and no sound OF ami
NAL speech either expresses or implies \
person. tense. mood. or any other eIe-
ment OF thought which qualities the sim
pie central concepts and 10 supply such .
terms at once destroys It's Identity as
animal speech.
Wants Are Made Plain
When anything IS given 20 the monkey
In response 10 this sound. she at once pro
ceeds TO examine It or 10 eat II: and II Il
quite satisfies her desire she ceases utter
Ing the sound But II Il Is not the thing
desired, or something equally satisfying.
although she may retain and eat Il. she
continues 10 utter the sound described.
When she wants water she employs the
same sound and usually approaches the
pantry. where the drinking water Is kept.
and which indicates the particular thing
wanted
If the thing especially wanted IS within
view there is little or no difficulty in as
certaining what Il IS as her eyes and &C
tons plainly indicate f. She does not
point her finger toward the object. but
extends her hand toward q, or shifts her
position so as 10 get near IL. meanwhile
lttering the sound mentioned. When she
wants 10 be helped into or out OF her
hammock, wants TO be put % bed. or be
taken up on 70 my lap she utters the
same sound
II fact. so far as I can discern. the
sound uniformly expresses the desire 20
n 4 #nHw Il -
accomplish without aid. II IS often.
though not always. accompanied by some
act or gesture which affords clew 10 its
meaning. and the urgency OF the want IS !
plainly indicated by the frequency and
energy with which the sound IS uttered. I
BY every test that 7 am able 20 devise
70 determine the exact meaning and limits
)f meaning TO this sound I have found
he fundamental thought from which II
proceeds, the want OF something. and 7
rave so far not discovered a single ex-
,eption to this rule. (
Criticism Is Answered. {
1T may be argued BY some fastldIous
ingUists that such a sound does not prop
rly constitute speech because OF IT'S am &
'iguity and the lack OF structural at
ributes: but the argument would applv /
'-'i StNeN4 NeoSliSg 10 a vast NUMBER OF l n
words OF human speech: and nor only :
10 al human languages abound in vast :
umbers Of ambiguous words. phrases. .
nd idioms, but many OF them are entire
Y unaffected. In written language the =,
mbiguity OF words is partially overcome .
y the manner OF spelling them; but SPELL ,
1g Is no more constituent part OF =
anguage than picture Is a component :
art Of the subject II represents.
AS an expert on the scope and charac- :,
er Of monkey conversations. I shall here :
escribe as well as I can an instance :
rhIch almost hofir1t, cor,ac ,-Se.- -. - u