Bonobos use different calls that combine to form phrases. This shows that this type of language is older than we thought. Humans use language to communicate, and one important part is syntax. This means putting words together to make longer sentences.
Even animals like chimpanzees can combine calls to warn each other. But only humans were believed to have the ability for true language with complex sentence structure. Scientists at the University of Zurich studied bonobos to see if they also have this ability.
By observing bonobos in the Congo, researchers found that bonobos use specific calls in combinations with distinct meanings. This suggests they have a form of syntax like humans. Although bonobos don’t have full language like humans, they do have a complex way of communicating with each other. This discovery could change how we understand the evolution of language.
Vocabulary List:
- Syntax /ˈsɪŋ.tæks/ (noun): The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.
- Communicate /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪt/ (verb): To share or exchange information ideas or feelings.
- Observing /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/ (verb): Watching carefully and attentively to gain information.
- Suggests /səˈdʒɛsts/ (verb): Proposes or recommends an idea or plan for consideration.
- Discovery /dɪsˈkʌv.ər.i/ (noun): The act of finding or learning something for the first time.
- Evolution /ˌiː.vəˈluː.ʃən/ (noun): The gradual development or change of something over time.
How much do you know?
