The case of Washoe, a chimpanzee who was taught American Sign Language, prompts discussion of all of the above options:
a. Can chimps adopt and use language?
Washoe's ability to acquire and use a human language suggests that chimpanzees may be capable of language acquisition, although there is still debate among scientists about what constitutes "true" language and whether non-human animals can truly acquire it.
b. Are chimps merely mimicking behavior for rewards?
There is some concern that chimps may be motivated to mimic human language behavior for the rewards that they receive, such as treats or attention from their trainers. However, some researchers argue that this does not necessarily negate the possibility that chimps are actually acquiring language.
c. Are trainers biased in their interpretation of behavior?
Some researchers have raised concerns about potential biases in the way that trainers interpret the behavior of chimpanzees who are being taught language. For example, trainers may be more likely to interpret ambiguous signs or behaviors as evidence of language acquisition in order to support their own hypotheses or theories.
Overall, the case of Washoe and other language-trained chimpanzees raises important questions about the nature of language and intelligence, as well as the ethics of using non-human animals for scientific research.