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This is a reddit thread for people who believe in evolution n shiet.
Althoughbeitdoetbh Chimps are our closest genetic relatives, yet they do not seem much different from most animals. While they have slightly above-average intelligence, that’s pretty much where it ends. When we teach our distant cousins sign language, they show no grammar or coherence in their "speech." This suggests that they do not have the ability to truly understand words, instead simply repeating them to get food.
On the other hand, parrots and crows share not only our intelligence, but they might also actually understand words. In a normal setting, a parrot doesn’t really understand what it’s saying; it simply recreates the sounds it hears. However, when trained, this simple mimicry can develop into an actual understanding of language. One of the most incredible examples of this is Alex the parrot.
Another advantage parrots have over chimps is that their FOXP2 gene, which is similar to ours, is specifically designed for language. In contrast, we don’t fully understand how chimps use their FOXP2 gene.
Now, while one might argue that chimps have a harder time communicating because they use sign language instead of their vocal cords, this is simply false. Both sign language and vocal language are processed by the same part of the brain. This argument can be further countered by looking at the FOXP2 gene, since it’s involved in language processing. Given that sign language is a form of language, it once again suggests that parrots are likely closer to us in thought than chimps are.
Althoughbeitdoetbh Chimps are our closest genetic relatives, yet they do not seem much different from most animals. While they have slightly above-average intelligence, that’s pretty much where it ends. When we teach our distant cousins sign language, they show no grammar or coherence in their "speech." This suggests that they do not have the ability to truly understand words, instead simply repeating them to get food.
On the other hand, parrots and crows share not only our intelligence, but they might also actually understand words. In a normal setting, a parrot doesn’t really understand what it’s saying; it simply recreates the sounds it hears. However, when trained, this simple mimicry can develop into an actual understanding of language. One of the most incredible examples of this is Alex the parrot.
Another advantage parrots have over chimps is that their FOXP2 gene, which is similar to ours, is specifically designed for language. In contrast, we don’t fully understand how chimps use their FOXP2 gene.
Now, while one might argue that chimps have a harder time communicating because they use sign language instead of their vocal cords, this is simply false. Both sign language and vocal language are processed by the same part of the brain. This argument can be further countered by looking at the FOXP2 gene, since it’s involved in language processing. Given that sign language is a form of language, it once again suggests that parrots are likely closer to us in thought than chimps are.
