Rogue Syntax: Primer

ROGUE SYNTAX PRIMER, EPISODE 3 Part 1: THE CLEVER HANS EFFECT In the early 20th century, experiments with a performing horse, “Clever Hans”, sparked off a wave of scientific interest in the communication capacities of animals which continue today. Episode 3 of ROGUE SYNTAX is in two parts and both deal with this legacy of what happens when humans try to make non-humans talk. Part 1 explores the stories of “talking” horses and chimpanzee sign language experiments; introduces concepts such as operant conditioning and the observer expectancy effect in the context of language learning; and discusses the ethical and psychological effects of what happens when we make animals communicate with us. ROGUE SYNTAX is supported by Liquid Architecture, 1646 and The Australia Council for the Arts. This episode written by Nathan Gray, edited by Danni Zuvela, script consultation by Dr. Rikke Bungaard-Nielsen and titles and examples by Makiko Yamamoto. Featuring music by Vera Dvale (https://soundcloud.com/eravale) recordings by Andrew Skeoch, Aural Archipelago and a recording of Nathaniel Mann's pigeon whistles. roguesyntaxprimer@gmail.com