Ape versus parrot

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by mathman, Oct 15, 2014.

  1. mathman Valued Senior Member

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    As nouns, they are completely different.
    As verbs, they are synonymous.
     
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  3. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    That's cute.
     
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  5. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    You could evolve this into a stumper, or a riddle.

    When are an ape and a parrot the same thing?
     
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  7. Fraggle Rocker Staff Member

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    Both apes (specifically chimpanzees and gorillas) and parrots (African greys) have learned to speak English--after a fashion.

    Apes have been taught American Sign Language and use it to communicate with humans and each other. One even taught it to her baby. They have only mastered a vocabulary of about 1,000 words, but that's quite a lot.

    African greys have not mastered syntax and cannot speak in complete sentences, but they can put three-word phrases together, such as "red plastic key."
     
  8. Landau Roof Registered Senior Member

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    Of course another sort of ape you have overlooked is the naked ape. Many of this species too has learned to speak English--after a fashion. And they can do African grey parrots one better with six-word phrases, such as "Where the hell are my keys!?"
     
  9. Landau Roof Registered Senior Member

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    Not quite. To parrot is to imitate words. To ape is to imitate, possibly words, but more likely actions. Monkey see, monkey do and all that.
     
  10. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    A parrot could parrot an ape and an ape could ape a parrot. But I don't think a parrot could ape an ape or an ape could parrot a parrot.
     
  11. Dr_Toad It's green! Valued Senior Member

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    This post is one one I'd 'like', but not wish to respond to with much more than

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  12. Landau Roof Registered Senior Member

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  13. rcscwc Registered Senior Member

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    Some such apes can successfully say : Av oo goh wa oo ur affa?
     
  14. Landau Roof Registered Senior Member

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    "Where the hell are my keys!?" -Luke 33:15​
     

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