Communicative and Cognitive Competence in an Exceptional Code

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Developing the ability to communicate in a particular code involves learning not just how to produce that code, but also how to use it. Dr. Pepperberg will study these processes by determining the conditions that are required for teaching a subject a repertoire that it would not normally acquire (an "exceptional code"), and then examining its functional use of this code. Dr. Pepperberg has shown previously that training procedures that rely on referential social modeling enable an African Grey parrot to acquire and combine English vocalizations (an exceptional code) to (a) request, refuse, quantify, identify, and categorize objects, and (b) control, to a limited extent, its immediate environment. Dr. Pepperberg will (1) extend her study to a second parrot, examining the effects of (a) species identity of the social model (i.e., parrot vs. human) and (b) varying degrees of social interaction between the trainers and trainee; (2) examine the level of acquired competence by investigating the extent to which this code can be used for comprehending questions, numerical concepts, object-object relations, prepositions, referring to objects not physically present (displacement), describing novel objects or circumstances (productivity), recognizing two- dimensional forms, use of verbs, negation, and how labeling may affect the ability to recall an object. These tasks are comparable to those that have been used with dolphins and non- human primates. In this way, Dr. Pepperberg's research is expanding our view of the cognitive capabilities of a non- mammalian species. Dr. Pepperberg also will continue to examine how social modeling may offer insights into other studies of vocal learning. Through such analyses, she is broadening and deepening our scientific understanding of the development of bird song and of human speech. Training techniques that she devises may prove valuable in work with developmentally retarded persons.