Talking Apes

Guests: Dieter Steklis, PhD, Professor of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Arizona; Netzin Steklis, MA, Lecturer, School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Department of Family Studies, and Human Development, University of Arizona Separating fact from fantasy in the Planet of the Apes movies. Could apes ever really learn to speak? Two different theories are circulating out there in the world of primatologists. One set of researchers thinks that, anatomically, apes won't ever be able to speak. Another group suggests that the structure of the vocal tracts has nothing to do with it and that any spoken ape language would be different from human speech but still function as a useful means of communication. Husband-and-wife primatolgists weigh in on the debate.