In a groundbreaking study published on Thursday in the journal Science, researchers have revealed that bonobos, our evolutionary cousins in the primate family, possess the ability to use vocal sounds to communicate meaning in ways previously thought to be exclusive to humans. This fascinating discovery suggests that there are stronger parallels with human language than previously recognized, as noted by the study's authors.
The research team, led by scientists from the University of Zurich and Harvard University, recorded bonobos—apes native to the Democratic Republic of Congo—utilizing a variety of vocalizations. Notably, they observed instances where combining different sounds altered the meanings conveyed. For instance, a “peep” paired with a “whistle” appeared to communicate a different message compared to either sound used alone. Other vocalizations included “grunts,” “yelps,” and “hoots,” showcasing the diverse vocal repertoire of these social creatures.
While it is not uncommon in the animal kingdom for a single sound to convey a specific meaning—such as signaling danger or expressing contentment—the ability to combine multiple sounds to create distinct meanings is much rarer. This sophisticated form of communication parallels how humans form complex meanings through language. For example, describing someone as a “blond dancer” uses sounds to convey two separate attributes, while calling someone a “bad dancer” implies a specific skill deficiency. Previously, this level of linguistic complexity was believed to be unique to humans, but the findings from this study indicate that bonobos may also share this capability.
Lead author Mélissa Berthet emphasized the implications of these findings, stating, “This suggests that the capacity to combine call types in complex ways is not as unique to humans as we once thought.” However, the study raises important questions regarding whether this linguistic ability is exclusive to bonobos and humans or if it exists in other animal species yet to be observed.
The research also posits that this ability may trace back to a common ancestor of both humans and bonobos, with their evolutionary paths diverging between seven and thirteen million years ago. The conclusions were drawn from an extensive analysis of over 700 recorded wild bonobo sounds. Berthet dedicated approximately eight months to meticulously documenting these sounds and their contexts in the Kokolopori Bonobo Reserve in Congo, further underscoring the study's depth and rigor.
Commenting on the study, Toshitaka Suzuki, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, praised the findings as “significant.” He highlighted the researchers' “innovative method” of cataloging bonobo sounds in their natural context. Suzuki also suggested that repeating this research with a larger sample size could help establish whether this behavior is a species-wide trait or confined to specific individuals.
As the study sheds light on the intricate communication abilities of bonobos, it opens up new avenues for understanding the evolution of language and communication in the animal kingdom, challenging our previous notions about the uniqueness of human language.
