Scientists discover similar structures in whale song and human language
Researchers have discovered that the structure of whale songs closely resembles that of human language. This finding suggests a deeper connection between the communication methods of these marine mammals and our own use of language.
TroibNews 
International scientists have discovered that the noises and songs produced by whales exhibit structural patterns similar to those found in human language.
The study involved analyzing various sounds—groans, moans, whistles, barks, shrieks, and squeaks—derived from humpback whale song recordings collected over an eight-year period in New Caledonia, situated in the South Pacific.
"Their noises and our words share a common pattern," stated Emma Carroll, a marine biologist at the University of Auckland and an expert in whale genetics. She emphasized that the finding is "something truly fascinating."
While this discovery does not suggest that whales possess a language, it may highlight the similarities in the evolution of communication systems in two species that are evolutionarily distant, as well as the processes by which these systems are learned, according to Carroll.
In human languages, the most frequently used word occurs about twice as often as the second most common word, and three times as often as the third, and so on. Commonly used words are typically short, such as "the," "of," and "and."
Upon segmenting the whale songs, the researchers observed that the same principles of frequency and brevity are present.
In a paper published in the journal Science, the researchers propose that this structural similarity may enhance "learnability," similar to its effect in humans.
Humpback whale song is recognized as one of the most intricate acoustic displays in the animal kingdom, exemplifying behavior that is socially learned and culturally transmitted.
The songs, performed exclusively by males, are thought to play a role in mate selection.
According to the research, a single song can last up to 20 minutes and consists of various sound types organized into a pattern.
Once considered unique to humans, the foundational elements of human language may actually be shared across species, as suggested by the researchers.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
The study involved analyzing various sounds—groans, moans, whistles, barks, shrieks, and squeaks—derived from humpback whale song recordings collected over an eight-year period in New Caledonia, situated in the South Pacific.
"Their noises and our words share a common pattern," stated Emma Carroll, a marine biologist at the University of Auckland and an expert in whale genetics. She emphasized that the finding is "something truly fascinating."
While this discovery does not suggest that whales possess a language, it may highlight the similarities in the evolution of communication systems in two species that are evolutionarily distant, as well as the processes by which these systems are learned, according to Carroll.
In human languages, the most frequently used word occurs about twice as often as the second most common word, and three times as often as the third, and so on. Commonly used words are typically short, such as "the," "of," and "and."
Upon segmenting the whale songs, the researchers observed that the same principles of frequency and brevity are present.
In a paper published in the journal Science, the researchers propose that this structural similarity may enhance "learnability," similar to its effect in humans.
Humpback whale song is recognized as one of the most intricate acoustic displays in the animal kingdom, exemplifying behavior that is socially learned and culturally transmitted.
The songs, performed exclusively by males, are thought to play a role in mate selection.
According to the research, a single song can last up to 20 minutes and consists of various sound types organized into a pattern.
Once considered unique to humans, the foundational elements of human language may actually be shared across species, as suggested by the researchers.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
