"[chimpanzee] politics"

[Joel S. Berson]

Jon, there is Frans de Waal's "Chimpanzee politics : power and sex
among apes", first U.S. ed. 1982; a translation
of  "Chimpansee-politiek," apparently also 1982.  I wouldn't be
surprised if he was the coiner, although perhaps someone else has an
article earlier.

I note also that Nicholas Wade had an article in the NYTimes Jan.11
(or Jan. 12 in print?), titled, variously, "Deciphering the Chatter
of Monkeys and Chimps" or "In Monkey Babble, Seeking Key to Human
Language Development ...".  Like the PBSers, Wade too doesn't think
chimps have language.

Joel

At 1/13/2010 09:53 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>Tonight's PBS show, "The Human Spark," discussed chimp behavior.
>
>The term regularly used by the primatologists to refer to interactions
>within groups was "chimpanzee politics."
>
>This sense of "politics" went undefined except for a parallel use of
>"manipulation" and "social scheming."
>
>It was indicated that chimps do not use "language" but do take part in
>"politics."
>
>JL
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org