A study from researchers at the University of Zurich and Harvard found that bonobos exhibit advanced communication skills, using word compounds similar to those in human language. This capability indicates that the foundations of language could have emerged before human evolution. The study highlights how bonobos use compositionality to express complex social situations, reinforcing the connection between vocal and social complexities. Through observations of bonobo vocalizations in the wild, researchers applied human linguistic techniques to reveal this intricate communication system, thereby contributing to our understanding of linguistic evolution.
The researchers' study revealed that bonobos use the equivalent of word compounds, suggesting the roots of language may predate humans.
The ability to pair words to form phrases, or compositionality, allows for communication of complex social situations among bonobos.
There's a long-held evolutionary relationship between vocal complexity and social complexity, illustrating the bonds of communication in complex social structures.
The study utilized novel methods from human linguistics to show bonobo vocal communication's reliance on compositionality, offering new insights into human evolution.
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