John Doe: thanks for the dictionary cite... but the literal meaning of "tangible" does not help illuminate the phrase "almost tangible silence," which does not make any sense.
What is "almost real" silence?
Chimpanzees mourn at burial of elderly relative . . . .
by nicolaou 33 Replies latest social current
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John Doe
The phrase is self illuminating. Ever heard the expression "silence speaks louder than words?" Similar idea.
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daniel-p
The phrase is self illuminating. Ever heard the expression "silence speaks louder than words?" Similar idea.
I understand that the chimps being silent is supposed to be important, but their words are self-defeating when they say the chimps were in "almost tangible silence," which is fucking stupid. So were they silent or not? If they were not silent, then they should say so, specifically remarking about the low chirps and other sounds uncharacteristic of their normal chatter.
How does this sound: "The sun went down with almost tangible movement." What I am really saying is, "the sun went down very slowly, and almost seemed as if it was not moving at all."
You can get on me now about being a grammar nazi or whatever. And then after you insult me I can call you names. (Just to abbreviate the inevitable.)
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John Doe
I understand that the chimps being silent is supposed to be important, but their words are self-defeating when they say the chimps were in "almost tangible silence," which is fucking stupid. So were they silent or not? If they were not silent, then they should say so, specifically remarking about the low chirps and other sounds uncharacteristic of their normal chatter.
I do not agree. Different degrees of meaning exist. If something is "almost tangible," that means it is not quite. That is a different and more narrow expression than "not tangible," the only expression you are recognizing.
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Deputy Dog
nic
Animals mourn - not like we do but like they do!
First of all, no, not all animals mourn. Some do display sadness and some of those may display it differently than others. Mourning at least the way I understand it, requires some fairly high level of thought.
As someone who spends much of my time working with animals. I understand they communicate differently than we do. While I'm not an expert on chimps, dogs (usually puppies) for example many times misunderstand the meaning of a smile, they can see it as aggression.
This photo is taken to make this look like a human funeral. I doubt very much the chimps saw it that way. In fact I'm not sure sadness can be seen in these chimps, let alone mourning. I think curiosity is more likely in most of the chimps seen here. IMHO
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daniel-p
I do not agree. Different degrees of meaning exist. If something is "almost tangible," that means it is not quite. That is a different and more narrow expression than "not tangible," the only expression you are recognizing.
I am not just recognizing silence or no silence, but think that a more presice description would serve their intent better, as I mentioned above with "the low chirps and other sounds uncharacteristic of their normal chatter." The reality was that the chimps were being uncharacteristically quiet, not "almost tangibly silent," which, again sounds fucking stupid.
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John Doe
While I'm not an expert on chimps, dogs (usually puppies) for example many times misunderstand the meaning of a smile, they can see it as aggression.
Humans many times misunderstand the short twitching of a cat's tale. They can see it as freindliness, when in fact it is aggression and a challenge.
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daniel-p
This photo is taken to make this look like a human funeral. I doubt very much the chimps saw it that way. In fact I'm not sure sadness can be seen in these chimps, let alone mourning. I think curiosity is more likely in most of the chimps seen here. IMHO
I think anthropomorphism is especially pronounced with chimps.
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Deputy Dog
JD
Humans many times misunderstand the short twitching of a cat's tale. They can see it as freindliness, when in fact it is aggression and a challenge.
You're absolutely right.
Another example, in dogs, if they move their heads from side to side, it's generally a friendly gesture. If a horse does that, look out, bad things are about to happen.
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observador
vilabolo makes very good comments here. This may very well reflect what humans were in a very deep past. The ability of mourning and taking care of the sick were, according to many researchers, what made us humans survive. Many believe that pre-humans simply took a different path in the evoluationary journey... and became us.