The article discusses the history and current status of verbal behavior, focusing on three main themes: the operant conditioning of adult verbal behavior, learning to be an effective speaker and listener, and developments related to Skinner's Verbal Behavior. It also covers other topics such as the work of Kurt Salzinger, ape-language research, and human operant research related to rule-governed behavior. Skinner's experimental analysis of behavior, influenced by Darwin, Thorndike, Pavlov, and Watson, led to the study of behavior in animals, particularly rats and pigeons. This research later extended to humans, revealing that preverbal children and individuals with language difficulties followed similar laws. This led to the development of behavior modification, which initially focused on children and institutionalized adults but later expanded to all clients and settings. The operant conditioning of adult verbal behavior was studied through experiments showing that reinforcement affects verbal responses. However, this research declined due to methodological issues and the shift towards behavior modification. The study of verbal behavior in children showed that reinforcement affects vocal responses, and research on imitation and specific verbal repertoires contributed to understanding normal acquisition. Skinner's Verbal Behavior, published in 1957, provided a detailed analysis of verbal behavior, but its impact was limited due to the lack of empirical data and the dominance of cognitive approaches. Despite this, it influenced the development of behavioral approaches to language and communication. Research on non-human animals, such as chimpanzees, showed that they could learn to use signs or lexigrams, but their language did not reach the complexity of human language. Recent studies with chimpanzees like Lana demonstrated some verbal behavior, but it was not as advanced as that of children. Rule-governed behavior, influenced by verbal stimuli, has been studied in humans, showing how verbal instructions affect behavior. This research has implications for understanding the effects of verbal behavior on nonverbal behavior and for developing interventions in applied settings. The area of verbal behavior is crucial for understanding human social and intellectual achievements, linking nonverbal behavior with human communication. Behavioral research in this area is still in its early stages but shows promise for future developments.The article discusses the history and current status of verbal behavior, focusing on three main themes: the operant conditioning of adult verbal behavior, learning to be an effective speaker and listener, and developments related to Skinner's Verbal Behavior. It also covers other topics such as the work of Kurt Salzinger, ape-language research, and human operant research related to rule-governed behavior. Skinner's experimental analysis of behavior, influenced by Darwin, Thorndike, Pavlov, and Watson, led to the study of behavior in animals, particularly rats and pigeons. This research later extended to humans, revealing that preverbal children and individuals with language difficulties followed similar laws. This led to the development of behavior modification, which initially focused on children and institutionalized adults but later expanded to all clients and settings. The operant conditioning of adult verbal behavior was studied through experiments showing that reinforcement affects verbal responses. However, this research declined due to methodological issues and the shift towards behavior modification. The study of verbal behavior in children showed that reinforcement affects vocal responses, and research on imitation and specific verbal repertoires contributed to understanding normal acquisition. Skinner's Verbal Behavior, published in 1957, provided a detailed analysis of verbal behavior, but its impact was limited due to the lack of empirical data and the dominance of cognitive approaches. Despite this, it influenced the development of behavioral approaches to language and communication. Research on non-human animals, such as chimpanzees, showed that they could learn to use signs or lexigrams, but their language did not reach the complexity of human language. Recent studies with chimpanzees like Lana demonstrated some verbal behavior, but it was not as advanced as that of children. Rule-governed behavior, influenced by verbal stimuli, has been studied in humans, showing how verbal instructions affect behavior. This research has implications for understanding the effects of verbal behavior on nonverbal behavior and for developing interventions in applied settings. The area of verbal behavior is crucial for understanding human social and intellectual achievements, linking nonverbal behavior with human communication. Behavioral research in this area is still in its early stages but shows promise for future developments.