Scientists Uncover Previously Unknown Chimpanzee Language

Scientists Uncover Previously Unknown Chimpanzee Language 0

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (Germany) analyzed 4,826 recordings of wild chimpanzee cries in Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire.

The study showed that chimpanzees are capable of structuring their speech. Researchers discovered hundreds of sentence variations that the primates created from sounds and cries.

There is an opinion that there is a significant gap between human speech and the 'languages' of animals, including chimpanzees. Humans can flexibly combine a limited set of sounds to create an infinite number of sentences.

At the same time, the number of such constructions in animals seems limited. Scientists are striving to understand how our complex language could have evolved from such a simple system, which remains one of the key questions in evolutionary science.

According to the authors of the new study, a detailed analysis of the number of sentences that chimpanzees can produce had not been conducted before. By recording conversations of 46 adult individuals from three different groups, totaling 900 hours, researchers counted 390 unique vocal sequences. The order of single cries followed certain rules and had different meanings and applications.

It was found that primates can produce single vocal signals both separately and combine them into combinations of two and three units, forming sentences. As a result, 12 types of cries were identified, such as grunting, puffing, ululating, barking, whimpering, and others.

For example, a single grunt is usually made during feeding, while repeated grunting serves as a greeting. A single hoot signifies a threat, while hooting with puffing is used for communication within the group, as noted by the authors of the study.

The ability to organize individual vocal units indicates the potential for developing a more complex system. The 390 different types of sequences, according to the authors, are just a small part of the language recorded by the researchers.

This study is the first within a larger project aimed at studying chimpanzee speech. This socially complex and human-like species may provide scientists with clues about the origins of human language.