Description

Discover who you are with MyHeritage. Get a 14-day free trial - https://bit.ly/HistoryofHumankind2025 or scan the QR code shown.



Written by Angela Wipperman



Art by the legendary Ettore Mazza: https://www.instagram.com/ettore.mazza



Narration by David Kelly



Editing by Marta Mancusi and Andrew Dixon



Title editing by Manuel Rubio



Produced by David Kelly and Andrew Dixon



Huge thanks to Bone Clones for their fantastic skull replicas. Check them out at https://boneclones.com/



An extra special thank you to Mary Lee Jensvold, Lynn Niemi and everyone at Friends of Washoe. To learn more about Washoe please visit www.friendsofwashoe.org and see a further reading list below the chapter timings below.



Music from Silver Maple, Epidemic Sound and Artlist.
Stock footage from Storyblocks, Artgrid and Shutterstock.



00:00 Introduction
04:28 The First Language
18:56 The First Speech
31:24 The First Conversation
43:04 The First Communication



Jensvold, M.L., Dombrausky, K., & Collins, E. (2023). Sign language studies with chimpanzees in sanctuary. Animals. 13(22): 3486. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223486



Dombrausky, K., Jensvold, M.L., Shaw, H., & Davis, J.Q. (2023). Chimpanzees coordinate interrogative markers to ask questions. Gesture, 22, 121-153. https://doi.org/10.1075/gest.22022.dom



Bodamar, M. D., & Gardner, R. A. (2002). How cross-fostered chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) initiate and maintain conversations. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 116(1), 12.



Jensvold, M.L.A., & Gardner, R.A. (2000). Interactive use of sign language by cross-fostered chimpanzees. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 114, 335-346