A new study reveals that bonobos, our closest living relatives, demonstrate a form of communication showing nontrivial compositionality, a characteristic thought to be exclusive to human language. This study published in Science indicates that bonobos can combine calls in a sophisticated way that adds complexity and nuance to their messages. The research challenges the long-held view that only humans possess this capacity for advanced language structure, positioning bonobos as more linguistically capable than previously believed.
Bonobos, akin to humans, demonstrate nontrivial compositionality in their communication, allowing them to combine calls in ways that create complex meanings and nuances.
Researchers have found that bonobos share aspects of human language by creating combinations of calls that exhibit a level of compositionality previously thought unique to humans.
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