Desktop T1

Kanzi, a young bonobo acquires language spontaneously in a bi-cultural world constructed specifically for him and for his Human/bonobo family. The world is based around travel in large forest on the campus of Georgia State University. Kanzi often tries to speak, but because his vocal cords are shorter, his sounds are too high and too rapid for human brains to process. Thus symbols, called "lexigrams" are made available to the people around him who use the lexigram plus spoken language to communicate with Kanzi and his siblings. Kanzi speaks "bonobish" with his mother Matata. She came to the United States, just prior to puberty, bringing with her a vast knowlege of the cultrual behavior of free bonobos who live in Congo. This documentary was produced by NHK and is copy righted by Dr. Savage-Rumbaugh.