Speaking gorilla's mathematics
Linguists are notoriously chary of accepting the claims of linguistic aptitude in other primates, such as Koko the gorilla; and the BBC are notoriously more than usually uncritical in reporting these feats. Now, I am quite willing to believe that Koko, when in pain from a toothache, signals "tooth" and "pain" in order to get treatment. This doesn't require any scepticism. But when I read
the BBC snippet-ette that Koko can grade it mathematically as well -- "After apparently feeling discomfort for a few weeks, she reached the point were she indicated at the number nine on a pain chart mapping the intensity of pain on a scale of one to 10" -- then I really have no idea what to think. "Are you having us on?" is one obvious candidate, and "What are you like?" another.
In other news, I am very saddened that the great language-master
Bernard Levin has died. An unequalled brilliance has dimmed.
Current Music: Strauss: Serenade in E flat major for 13 wind instruments 
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