Regular readers of our blog know that while our business is facilitating communication between humans, we’re very intrigued by how animals communicate too.
Recent research by scientists from the University of Zurich and Harvard University explored vocal exchanges between bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They found out that the bonobos – which are similar to chimpanzees – string together different sounds into phrases and, further, that these phrases seem to communicate specific meanings. For example, one sound, which showed that the animal had an intention, could be connected with another, which meant that the group needed to stay coordinated, to give a combined meaning like: ‘Let’s all do this thing together.’
While bonobo communication falls sort of being an actual language, it is essential for the well-being of the social groups they live in. They inhabit dense forested areas and often cannot see the other members of their group. By communicating as they do, they can ensure that they all stay together and direct each other towards certain common goals.
This research into the communication style of an animal with which we humans share a relatively recent common ancestor provides insights into how our language may have evolved, and that the complex sentence structures we use today are likely to have started with simpler building blocks.
Photo Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-couple-of-monkeys-playing-in-the-grass-E81QVHjlh3M
