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Nim Chimpsky Biography
Sign-Language Chimp
The chimpanzee Nim Chimpsky was the subject of a landmark experiment in teaching sign language to apes. Named in a humorous salute to language theorist Noam Chomsky, Nim was raised in a human-like setting and taught sign language as if he were a human child. Nim learned to use basic signs but, it was generally agreed, did not develop complex language skills. (Other famous language-learning apes include Koko the gorilla and Washoe the chimp.) Nim was later sold to a medical lab to be the subject of experiments, but through the intervention of activist Cleveland Amory he was instead sent to retirement at a Texas wildlife sanctuary.
Extra credit: Nim Chimpsky is also the name of a popular Welsh band.
Chimsky appears with space pioneer Ham in our loop Great Apes!
Blog posts mentioning Nim Chimpsky:
Four Good Links
Impish Chimp Changed Science
Nim's first tutor offers a touching obituary
Primate Use of Language
Examines the role of Chimpsky and others
Do Animals Think?
Essay from Psychology Today that mentions the Chimpsky experiments
Nim Chimpsky
Encyclopedia entry that briefly describes who Chimpsky was
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
23 March 2000
(heart attack, age 26)
Best Known As
Language-learning chimp with a funny name