| 释义 |
Yerkish, n. (and a.)|ˈjɜːkɪʃ|
[f. the name of R. M. Yerkes (1876–1956), U.S. primatologist + -ish1.]
A sign language for chimpanzees based on geometric symbols, chiefly devised by E. C. von Glasersfeld for experimental purposes and first published in 1973. Also attrib. or as adj.
1973D. M. Rumbaugh et al. in Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation Sept. 385/2 The study program..included the design of the language system (Yerkish). Ibid. 387/2 Each correlator links two items that are expressed in the Yerkish phrase or sentence. 1973Science 16 Nov. 731 Each Yerkish word, or ‘lexigram’, is a distinctive geometric white symbol on a colored background. 1974E. C. von Glasersfeld in Amer. Jrnl. Computational Linguistics (microfiche 12), The Yerkish language for nonhuman primates. 1974N.Y. Times 29 May 52/3 Lana's [sc. a chimpanzee's] computerized language, called Yerkish in honor of the primate center's founder, Dr. Robert M. Yerkes. 1977E. C. von Glasersfeld in D. M. Rumbaugh Language Learning by Chimpanzee v. 114 The grammar of Yerkish had to be kept as simple as possible for several reasons. 1980Times 3 July 16/3 ‘Yerkish’, an artificial language especially developed by Professor D. M. Rumbaugh at the Yerkes Primate Research Centre, Emory University, near Atlanta, United States, for a chimpanzee called Lana. |