Great Apes: Not So Different After All
A New Study Challenges the Long-Held Belief That Human Language Is Unique
For centuries, scientists have believed that a deep chasm separated human language from animal communication. But a new study challenges this long-held idea, finding that great apes share many of the same vocal and gestural communication skills as humans.
The Study
The study, published in the journal Science, analyzed the vocal and gestural communication of four great ape species: chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans. The researchers found that these apes use a wide variety of vocalizations and gestures to communicate with each other, including calls to warn of predators, attract mates, and negotiate social interactions.
The researchers also found that great apes are capable of understanding and producing human speech. In one experiment, the researchers taught a group of chimpanzees to sign for different objects. The chimpanzees were then able to use these signs to ask for food, drinks, and other objects.
The Implications
The findings of this study have important implications for our understanding of human evolution. They suggest that the capacity for language is not unique to humans, but rather evolved in our common ancestor with great apes.
These findings also have implications for the way we think about animal intelligence. They suggest that animals are capable of much more complex communication and cognition than we previously thought.
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