People want to believe even if dogs and gorillas can’t actually speak, they have some intimate rapport with human language abilities. If there’s a crazy cat lady at the party, it doesn’t pay to imply she’s insane to suggest Rufus knows or cares what she’s saying.
it is not absurd that both (a) legible examples like Koko are made up / wishful thinking, while also (b) animals and humans who live in close proximity can illegibly communicate semi-complex/semi-abstract ideas. certainly humans can communicate without any shared formal language. as much as quite rich narrative can be expressed through gesture and tone.
even secret information tests (researcher leaves the room → animal is shown a secret → researcher must elicit the secret) may not be strong proof. if the communication relies on shared emotional salience, these laboratory settings may not be conducive.
it is not absurd that both (a) legible examples like Koko are made up / wishful thinking, while also (b) animals and humans who live in close proximity can illegibly communicate semi-complex/semi-abstract ideas. certainly humans can communicate without any shared formal language. as much as quite rich narrative can be expressed through gesture and tone.
even secret information tests (researcher leaves the room → animal is shown a secret → researcher must elicit the secret) may not be strong proof. if the communication relies on shared emotional salience, these laboratory settings may not be conducive.