Dear All,
I am currently volunteering at the Gorilla Foundation where Koko the Gorilla resides. She is very knowlegable in American Sign Language. I am assisting one of the gorilla caregivers in research on the concept of self-signing as they have noted that Koko sometimes signs to herself when she is alone. We wonder if people who are deaf or hard of hearing and know sign language if they also sign to themselves while they are alone. Also how would one describe the process of what is occuring, ie/ talking out loud? Dr Christa Nunes is only in the initial phase of developing this research project.
Dr Christa Nunes received her Bachelors degree in Applied Mathematics from UCLA. She received her Masters in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado where she led several zero gravity experiments. She received her Doctorate of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California Berkeley and the University of California San Francisco.
After completing her education she traveled for 2years during which she visited the Susa gorilla family in Rwanda. She initially worked with marine mammals on her return to the US. She started out as a volunteer at the Gorilla Foundation and has been employed as a gorilla care giver since August 2004.
It is very difficult to find information on the topic of self-signing in primates since such a small number have been taught to sign. Therefore, I sincerely hope that I have not offended anyone with this request, it certainly is not my intent.
You can answer in this forum or write to me on nancy.yerly@paradise.net.nz
Sincerely, Nancy Kay
I am currently volunteering at the Gorilla Foundation where Koko the Gorilla resides. She is very knowlegable in American Sign Language. I am assisting one of the gorilla caregivers in research on the concept of self-signing as they have noted that Koko sometimes signs to herself when she is alone. We wonder if people who are deaf or hard of hearing and know sign language if they also sign to themselves while they are alone. Also how would one describe the process of what is occuring, ie/ talking out loud? Dr Christa Nunes is only in the initial phase of developing this research project.
Dr Christa Nunes received her Bachelors degree in Applied Mathematics from UCLA. She received her Masters in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado where she led several zero gravity experiments. She received her Doctorate of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California Berkeley and the University of California San Francisco.
After completing her education she traveled for 2years during which she visited the Susa gorilla family in Rwanda. She initially worked with marine mammals on her return to the US. She started out as a volunteer at the Gorilla Foundation and has been employed as a gorilla care giver since August 2004.
It is very difficult to find information on the topic of self-signing in primates since such a small number have been taught to sign. Therefore, I sincerely hope that I have not offended anyone with this request, it certainly is not my intent.
You can answer in this forum or write to me on nancy.yerly@paradise.net.nz
Sincerely, Nancy Kay