--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to communicate with an ape…" description: "\"“If you want to communicate with an ape, try communicating about these topics. Just remember to keep it simple. You may be surprised. Boyce Rensberger,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/denise-d-cummins-232230_animal_if-you-want-to-communicate-with-an-ape-t_2983707.jpg" --- # If you want to communicate with an ape, try communicating… ![“If you want to communicate with an ape, try communicating about these topics. Just remember to keep it simple. You may be surprised. Boyce Rensberger, a former science writer for the Washington Post, learned ASL from his parents, who could neither speak nor hear, although he could do both. When…” quote by Denise D.Cummins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/denise-d-cummins-232230_animal_if-you-want-to-communicate-with-an-ape-t_2983707.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/denise-d-cummins-232230_animal_if-you-want-to-communicate-with-an-ape-t_2983707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/denise-d-cummins-232230_animal_if-you-want-to-communicate-with-an-ape-t_2983707.jpg) > ““If you want to communicate with an ape, try communicating about these topics. Just remember to keep it simple. You may be surprised. Boyce Rensberger, a former science writer for the Washington Post, learned ASL from his parents, who could neither speak nor hear, although he could do both. When interacting with a chimp who had mastered a bit of American Sign Language, he said: “Suddenly I realized I was conversing with a member of another species in my native tongue.”” [Denise D.Cummins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-d-cummins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simple communication topics help bridge gaps when speaking with apes, illustrating the power of basic language. **In simple terms:** Simple topics aid ape communication. Key Takeaway Use clear, simple language for cross‑species dialogue. Themes communication language simplicity science inter‑species Mood curious educational Type scientific informative When to use this quote - science outreach - language teaching - museum exhibits - public talks Key Concepts linguistics anthropology education Questions to Reflect On - What topics work best with non‑human listeners? - How does simplicity affect comprehension? A Different Perspective Human‑centric assumptions may limit understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Sign Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-sign-language/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Asl Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asl-parents-4652514/) [Communicate Ape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate-ape-4652512/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Interacting Chimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interacting-chimp-4652515/) [Learned Asl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-asl-4652513/) [Sign language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sign-language/) ## Related quotes > [American Sign Language is my native tongue. That's the first thing that I learned to communicate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/american-sign-language-is-my-native-tongue-that-s-the-first-thing/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [The seed for my novel 'Half Brother' was planted in my mind over twenty years ago, but didn't germinate until late 2007 when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-oppel/the-seed-for-my-novel-half-brother-was-planted-in-my-mind-over-twenty/) [Kenneth Oppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-oppel/) > [“Perhaps best known is the case of Koko, the gorilla to whom the Gorilla Foundation taught American Sign Language. Koko learned more than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/perhaps-best-known-is-the-case-of-koko-the-gorilla-to-whom-the/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [“And what do you know, John's hands flew through the positions of ASL in various l-got-this combinations. 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It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you want to communicate with an ape, try communicating about these topics. Just remember to keep it simple. You may be surprised. Boyce Rensberger, a former science writer for the Washington Post, learned ASL from his parents, who could neither speak nor hear, although he could do both. 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