Hi All I think it might be some time before chimps or parrote explain the theory of relativity. The point about not being able to express themselves and only being programmed for reward is not quite true. I saw a documentary where a chimp clearly understood pictures and signs and language. It communicated quite lucidly about many abstract things using signs and pictures. It did indeed make up new complex words using existing language and signs. It even had a sense of humour playing jokes with the trainer. Linguists were studying this chimp and agreed that it was not down to learned behaviour or copying for a reward. It knew happy and sad and tired and hungry and would interupt what was going on to express these feelings.

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