Computational Constraints on Syntactic Processing in a Nonhuman Primate

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 303; no. 5656; pp. 377 - 380
• Main Authors: Fitch, W. Tecumseh, Hauser, Marc D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 16.01.2004; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Adult; Animal cognition; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Communication (Thought Transfer); Computers; Cues; Female; Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grammar; Humans; Intelligence; Language; Learning; Linguistic Competence; Linguistics; Male; Memory; Miscellaneous; Phonetics; Phonology; Phrase Structure; Primates; Programming Languages; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Saguinus; Social Cognition; Solmization; Speech; Stimuli; Structural Grammar; Syllables; Syntax; Human; Animal communication; Interspecific comparison; Monkey; Cognition; Grammar; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Saguinus oedipus; Language; Animal; Primates; Simioidea; Syntax
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1089401

The capacity to generate a limitless range of meaningful expressions from a finite set of elements differentiates human language from other animal communication systems. Rule systems capable of generating an infinite set of outputs ("grammars") vary in generative power. The weakest possess only local organizational principles, with regularities limited to neighboring units. We used a familiarization/discrimination paradigm to demonstrate that monkeys can spontaneously master such grammars. However, human language entails more sophisticated grammars, incorporating hierarchical structure. Monkeys tested with the same methods, syllables, and sequence lengths were unable to master a grammar at this higher, "phrase structure grammar" level.