Scientists determined to crack language code behind whale songs

Whales have long intrigued humans and are viewed by many as somewhat magically foreign creatures. Scientists have now uncovered that humpback whales produce songs with a structure that suggests resemblance to how humans organize language.

This discovery is based on methods previously used to study how infants detect words in speech. The research was led by Professor Inbal Arnon from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, along with collaborators from various universities. An article published in the Earth publication recalls the debate over whether whales used anything comparable to human language. This study changes that perspective, revealing that whale songs contain repeated elements that are similar to patterns found in human speech.

The team compared the patterns found in whale songs with those in human language and found that certain repeated sounds exhibited a distribution pattern similar to that of spoken words.

The research relied on eight years of whale song recordings from New Caledonia. The analysis suggests that whales may form phrases with distinct internal boundaries that are repeated.

The researchers utilized methods initially developed for studying baby language acquisition. A landmark study from 1996 showed that eight-month-old infants recognize patterns in syllables to identify word boundaries.

By applying this approach to whale songs, the researchers were able to identify distinct structural units in their songs. They hypothesize that whales may use a similar statistical process to piece these sound units together.

The question now is whether whales recognize transitions between these sound elements as cues. If so, it could open new avenues for understanding how animals learn complex vocalizations.

Professor Simon Kirby from the University of Edinburgh noted, “It suggests that our understanding of the evolution of language can benefit not only from looking at our closest primate relatives, but also at cases of convergent evolution elsewhere in nature.”

Studying whales could also shine a light on the role of cultural factors in communication. The authors of the study suggest that these findings challenge old ideas about human uniqueness.

However, some scientists argue that humpback songs may resemble music more than language. Some characteristics might straddle both fields, hinting at shared pathways in the development of complex signals.

Dr. Garland highlighted that these new perspectives raise several open questions about cognition and communication. She emphasizes that additional data will be necessary to determine if whales use these structural breaks in their actual interactions.

By Nazrin Sadigova