Hello, everyone ![]()
I'm reading an article about a famous chimpanzee who took part in research into language learning: I have a couple of questions.
The name Nim Chimpsky was a twist on Noam Chomsky, the famous American linguist who theorised that language as we know it is unique to humans. Terrace wanted to disprove this and show that a chimpanzee could develop real language. Nim was the chimp he chose.
To immerse Nim in a world where he would be taught sign language in the same way a human child would, Terrace brought him to live with a family in New York City in 1973, not long after the chimp was born. There, Nim joined a large, chaotic family with many human siblings who could teach him sign language. Nim's surrogate mother was Stephanie LaFarge, a psychology student studying with Terrace. She carried the chimp around on her body for almost two years.
But it wasn't easy to raise a chimp in a Manhattan brownstone. Nim was active, playful and strong. Soon he was breaking things all over the house. LaFarge's husband was never comfortable with Nim, and as the chimp entered his 'terrible twos', he became too much of a handful. So Terrace took Nim to live in a mansion that was part of Columbia University.
What is the exact meaning of "twist" here? I suppose it's got something to do with changing the name, but does it also include mocking someone by doing so?
I am also not sure about what "terrible twos" refer to.
Thank you very much for your help.
A "twist" is a playful, humorous joke. The "terrible twos" is a stage in the development of a baby when he is about 2 years old. " and uses it against his mother.
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A "twist" is a playful, humorous joke.
The "terrible twos" is a stage in the development of a baby when he is about 2 years old. He is mobile, and has learned the word "No!" and uses it against his mother. He also throws tantrums and screams and cries when he does not get what he wants. He is mischievous, and tries to climb to the top of the refrigerator, pull all the pots and pa