Final answer:
The film Clever Monkeys implies that primates are capable of deceptive behaviors such as false alarm calls. Primates exhibit complex communication skills, and vervet monkeys, for example, have specific calls for different predators, which indicates an elementary form of language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The film Clever Monkeys suggests that some primates are capable of deception, including intentionally sounding a false alarm to monopolize a food resource. This behavior can indeed be observed in the primate world, where complex social interactions often include various communication tactics for survival and personal benefit. Monkeys, for example, are known to use vocalizations in different contexts, which could potentially include deceptive calls to distract others and gain access to food or other resources. This use of deception demonstrates the intelligence and social acumen of primates in their natural habitats.
In the context of the vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), it is well-documented that they have distinct calls for different types of predators like leopards, eagles, and snakes. Their responses to these calls are specific and appropriate for the type of threat they signal. As for whether they are using language, it can be argued that while vervet monkeys do not possess language in the same sense humans do, they do have a communicative system with specific vocalizations that convey particular meanings, which is a hallmark of a primitive form of language.