Bonobos Exhibit Human-Like Language Structures in Groundbreaking Study
Research reveals that bonobos use complex vocal combinations with meanings tied to their arrangement, challenging assumptions about human language's uniqueness.
- A study published in *Science* confirms that bonobos use compositionality in their vocalizations, a feature previously thought unique to human language.
- Researchers identified 19 call combinations from 700 vocalizations, with some exhibiting nontrivial meanings beyond the sum of their parts.
- The findings suggest that the cognitive foundations for language existed in the common ancestor of humans and bonobos over 7 million years ago.
- This is the first study to determine the meaning of calls across an animal's entire vocal repertoire, creating a 'bonobo dictionary.'
- Bonobos use vocal combinations for social coordination, such as resolving tension during mating or encouraging group cohesion.
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