Science in Seconds - Monkey Talk

Science in Seconds Know Everything RUMOURS - Monkey Talk Brit Trogen: Boom-boom. Hok-hok-hok. Krak-krak. No, Lady Gaga doesn't have a new song out. You've just heard half the vocabulary of a Campbell's monkey, a primate who was in the news recently for a rather astonishing feat. These monkeys appear to use sentence structure. Yes, syntax. Once believed to be uniquely human, and, in fact, one of the defining human traits that separate us from animals. Because, while the Campbell's monkeys only have six type of call, each with a different meaning, they're able to string two or more calls together, into messages with very different meanings. "Boom-boom" means, "Here I am. Come on over." "Krak-krak" means "Heads up! There's a leopard." But "Boom-boom-Krak-oo-, Krak-oo, Krak-oo" means "Timber," as in, "Lo, a tree falls." Baboons also appear to think in sentences. When researchers play a recording of a superior baboon threatening an inferior followed by the inferior screaming in terror, the other baboons would pay no attention. But as they alter the tapes to produce the sounds of an inferior's threat-grunt followed by the superior's scream, the baboons will turn in amazement towards the sound. They recognize the order of the sounds and attach meaning to the sequence. What's more, examples of complex language in other apes, elephants, whales and dolphins are just now beginning to be recognized, often involving non-verbal, infrasonic and otherwise inaudible communication that is nonetheless highly effective in connoting meaning. This is the first time we've been forced to come to terms with our claim to sole ownership over language. But, in fact, studying these rudimentary forms of communication can lead to great insight into how our own language may have evolved. And, more importantly, it gives us a much needed look into our own place in the world. Not as its sole intelligent life forms, but as one of many who are able to say, "What up world?" Courtesy of Science in Seconds – All rights reserved Only for educational/non-profit purposes. (Translators are invited to put their name here)