Scientists have found that chimpanzees have their own primitive language. Amazing! (3 photos)

Research shedding light on evolutionary history human language, showed that chimpanzees have their own language with syntax and special sounds.





Sometimes a simple cry (regardless from the tongue) “Oh no!”, “Help!” or "Beware!" combined with gestures and appropriate facial expressions more than enough to warn of a possible threat. So, Researchers from the University of Zurich decided with the help of little prank to find out if chimpanzees are capable - one of the animal species closest to man, to a similar proactive level of communication. The experiment showed: wild chimpanzees in Uganda they probably speak their own primitive language.



monkey language

Scientists used a prank (prank) with fake snakes strung on fishing lines for observation and recording chimpanzee reactions. Sounds made for animals in different order to see which one will trigger more strong response. Found: Chimpanzees not only tied up specific sounds with corresponding meanings, but also understood word order and react accordingly depending on which sound came first in sequence.

It has previously been observed that chimpanzees emit two distinct sound at the sight of snakes and other dangers in the wild. "Waa-barks" is a call from other chimpanzees to help. "Alarm-huus" - potential danger warning. At the first stage fake snake prank, scientists placed fake snakes nearby with a chimpanzee. While scaring with a fake snake, the researchers included records both "waa-barks" and "alarm-huus".

Thus, chimpanzees reacted more strongly when "waa-barks" was followed by "alarm-huus". It says that the order The sound played a role in the reactions of the monkeys. Researchers believe that this indicates the existence of a syntax in the primitive language of animals. “We propose that peculiar expressions are a compositional syntactic structure, where the meaning of the combinations comes from the meaning of its parts, experts explained.



The evolution of languages

Researchers note: chimpanzees using syntax, show that syntax did not originate with humans, “but that cognitive building blocks that facilitate syntax may have been present the last common ancestor of humans with chimpanzees."

"Humans and chimpanzees last had in common ancestor about 6 million years ago. Therefore, our data show that the ability to combine meaningful vocalizations is potentially at least 6 million years, if not more,” said the author research and professor at the University of Zurich Simon Townsend.