This paper argues against three premises of language innatism: 1) language is oral; 2) language is species-specific; and 3) man has a built-in language-specific capacity. (CHK)

Experiments in teaching language or language-like behavior to chimpanzees and other primates may bear on the problem of the origin of language. Evidence appears to support the theory that man's first language was gestural. Recent pongid language experiments suggest: (1) a capacity for language is not solely human and therefore does not represent…

In the debate over continuities versus discontinuities in the emergence of language, sign language is not taken to be the antithesis, but is presented as the antecedent of spoken languages. (Author/HP)

Comments on James J. Fernandes' article (CS 706 160). (PD)

Language intervention approaches were built into a residential environment for 13 women with severe mental retardation. Two residents were assigned to an intensive signing program, two to an "Intro-talker and signing" group, and the remaining residents to various comparison-intervention and comparison groups. Increases in positive communicative…

Repercussions of "Language and Education of the Deaf" by Herbert R. Kohl are examined as a followup. The original study described the education and achievement of profoundly deaf individuals in America, presented a critique of the literature that had grown around the problems of the deaf, and focused on the relative failure of deaf education.…

A collection of research materials on sign language and primatology is presented here. The essays attempt to show that: sign language is a legitimate language that can be learned not only by humans but by nonhuman primates as well, and nonhuman primates have the capability to acquire a human language using a different mode. The following…