Claims that a pygmy chimp called Kanzi has developed the ability to talk hit the headlines around the world when they were published in the New Scientist (UK 2 January 2003). Although the BBC Online maintained an air of quiet scepticism — “Ape 'learns to talk'” — others were more enthusiastic, with the Times of India (2 January 2003) proclaiming “Speaking chimpanzee leaves experts amazed”.

The researchers working with Kanzi, Jared Taglialatela and Sue Savage-Rumbaugh of Georgia State University, claim that the chimp spontaneously started making four distinct sounds, corresponding to the words 'banana', 'grapes', 'juice' and 'yes'. Kanzi, like other primates, can communicate by pointing at symbols — but this is the first report of an ape making sounds that have distinct meanings across different situations. According to the Straits Times (Singapore 3 January 2003), the claims “...challenge the long-held belief that apes have no language ability.”

As the New Zealand Herald (4 January 2003) points out, scientists disagree over what constitutes 'language'. “Some linguists believe that even symbolic communication, which many chimps achieve, qualifies as language, but many now say some mastery of syntax is also required.” In the New Scientist, Frans de Waal of Emory University spoke for the primatology community when he said, “Sometimes we feel it's a bit unfair that [linguists] move the goalposts as soon as we get near.”

If the claims hold up, Kanzi will become as famous as Washoe, the chimp who first learned American Sign Language. Primatologist John Mitani of the University of Michigan commented, “There have to be evolutionary precursors to what we do. We are beginning to find them in the primate world.” (New Zealand Herald).