Chimpanzee Sign Language Comparable in Speed to Human Speech

Chimpanzee sign language is comparable in speed to human speech, scientists from the USA and Europe have found. By analyzing over 8500 gestures made by wild primates, the researchers concluded that chimpanzees respond to their peers in approximately 200 ms, which is comparable to the average speed of our responses to remarks. Interestingly, the apes use gestures in almost all aspects of life: greeting each other, arguing, reconciling, and so on. Most dialogues are limited to a few gestures, but complex negotiations can contain up to seven. Sometimes chimpanzees even interrupt each other, understanding the meaning of the gesture before it is completed.