The question of whether apes can ask questions reaches into the nature of language and the cognitive boundary between humans and our closest living relatives. Ape intelligence is undeniable, and their capacity for symbolic communication has been demonstrated through decades of research. However, the ability to formulate a true question—an interrogative statement aimed at acquiring novel information—is considered a unique hallmark of the human mind. This distinction is not merely about vocabulary size or the ability to string symbols together, but about the underlying intent of the communication act itself.
What Defines a True Question
A true question, or interrogative, is defined by the speaker’s intent to resolve a specific gap in their personal knowledge. This requires a cognitive awareness that one is missing information, a state known as epistemic uncertainty. Questions are classified as a heuristic function of language, meaning they are used for the purpose of learning and discovery. In human language, this intent is often signaled by specific syntactic structures, such as the use of wh-words like “where,” “what,” or “who.” A true interrogative seeks an answer that is fundamentally unknown to the questioner.
Communication Studies and Requesting
Decades of research show that great apes possess a significant capacity for symbolic communication, primarily through American Sign Language (ASL) or abstract symbols called lexigrams. Pioneering studies with the chimpanzee Washoe and the gorilla Koko demonstrated the ability to learn hundreds of signs and combine them into phrases. The bonobo Kanzi also mastered over 400 lexigrams spontaneously. These studies proved that apes could master vocabulary, demonstrate semantic understanding, and use symbols to refer to objects and actions. However, the vast majority of the communication served a regulatory function, focusing on commands, demands, and expressing desires.
Distinguishing Requests from Seeking Novel Information
The crucial difference between ape communication and human question-asking lies in the intent behind the symbol usage. A typical ape utterance is generally an imperative—a request or a demand, such as signing “Give banana” or “More tickle.” This communication is aimed at regulating the environment or the behavior of the human handler. A true question, in contrast, is an interrogative act that seeks to fill a genuine knowledge void. For example, if an ape signs “Where banana,” scientists typically interpret this as an immediate demand for a desired object to appear, not an inquiry about its unknown location. While displacement (communicating about things not immediately present) is a feature of ape language, the specific intent to acquire novel information remains absent, unlike a human child who asks simply to resolve uncertainty.
Why True Interrogatives Remain Unique to Humans
The lack of evidence for the spontaneous, syntactic generation of true questions suggests that this cognitive ability remains a key differentiator of human language. Formulating a true question requires a complex cognitive architecture: the ability to recognize a gap in one’s own knowledge and then construct a symbolic expression designed to elicit that missing information from another individual. This capability is deeply intertwined with the human capacity for cumulative culture. Asking questions allows for teaching and the efficient transfer of complex, abstract knowledge across generations. The ability to inquire about “why” or “how” something works is a powerful engine for innovation and social learning.