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Pantomime in great apes: Evidence and implications.

Anne E Russon¹, Kristin Andrews

¹Psychology; Glendon College; Toronto, BC Canada.

Communicative & Integrative Biology

|October 8, 2011

Summary

Great apes, including orangutans, use pantomime gestures to communicate by physically enacting referents. This study explores evidence of pantomime in other great apes, suggesting complex cognitive abilities.

Keywords:

cognition communication gesture great apes language origins narrative orangutan pantomime

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Area of Science:

Primate communication
Ethology
Cognitive ethology

Background:

Observational data revealed forest-living orangutans use pantomime gestures.
Pantomimes are iconic gestures that physically resemble and enact their referents.
Examples include gestures for "balloon" by blowing between fingers at the lips.

Purpose of the Study:

To present evidence of pantomime in other great ape species.
To discuss methodological considerations in studying great ape pantomime.
To explore the sophisticated cognitive capabilities suggested by great ape pantomimes.

Main Methods:

Analysis of observational data on primate gestural communication.
Comparative study of gestural repertoires across great ape species.
Literature review on gesture, pantomime, and cognitive abilities in primates.

Main Results:

Evidence suggests pantomime is not unique to orangutans among great apes.
Methodological challenges in distinguishing pantomime from other gestures were identified.
The findings support the hypothesis of advanced cognitive functions in great ape communication.

Conclusions:

Pantomimic communication may be more widespread in great apes than previously recognized.
Further research is needed to fully understand the scope and function of pantomime in non-human primates.
Great ape pantomime offers insights into the evolution of symbolic communication and cognitive complexity.