Two new studies reveal an astonishing level of sophistication in whale songs, challenging human language exceptionalism and reshaping our view of communication.
This research provides valuable insights into animal communication, showing that many species have intricate vocal systems once thought exclusively human. “These findings question our linguistic superiority. They reveal deep evolutionary connections between humans and whales,” says Simon Kirby, professor of language evolution at the University of Edinburgh.
HUMPBACK WHALES DISPLAY HUMAN-LIKE SPEECH EFFICIENCY
Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) communicate with remarkable efficiency, sometimes matching or even surpassing human speech in structural organization.
Scientists found that humpback whale songs follow complex linguistic structures, challenging the idea that human language is entirely unique.
Measuring Communication Efficiency in Whales and Humans
Ethologist and computational scientist Mason Youngblood analyzed 51 human languages and 65,511 whale-song sequences to assess their efficiency.
Efficient communication allows for rapid information sharing. While complexity conveys more meaning, excessive vocalization wastes energy and can attract predators.
Youngblood applied Menzerath’s law and Zipf’s law of abbreviation to measure how whales structure their songs for optimal efficiency. Menzerath’s law states that longer sequences consist of shorter elements. Zipf’s law suggests commonly used words or sounds tend to be shorter.
Analyzing Whale Calls Across 16 Species
Youngblood compared vocal patterns from 16 cetacean species, including baleen whales, dolphins, and toothed whales, with human speech.
Calls from 11 out of 16 whale species adhered to Menzerath’s law as much or more than human language. Only humpback and blue whales followed Zipf’s law.
A separate study examined humpback whale songs using techniques typically used to study human infant speech development.
THE ZIPFIAN DISTRIBUTION AND LEARNING
Human languages follow a Zipfian distribution, aiding language acquisition and ensuring linguistic consistency across generations.
Humpbacks arrange individual sound elements into phrases, then combine phrases into themes, forming structured songs akin to human speech.
CULTURAL TRANSMISSION OF WHALE SONGS
Humpback whales pass their songs through generations, much like humans transmit language and storytelling traditions over time.
Researchers analyzed eight years of whale recordings, uncovering hidden structural patterns that followed Zipfian distributions—just like in human languages.
WHALE SONGS EXHIBIT HIDDEN LINGUISTIC COMPLEXITY
Scientists discovered that frequently used whale song elements were shorter, mirroring how human speech prioritizes efficiency.
“Techniques used in infant language studies uncovered new structure in whale songs.” Inbal Arnon, a developmental psycholinguist at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explains.
A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON ANIMAL COMMUNICATION
Behavioral ecologist Ellen Garland from the University of St. Andrews describes the findings as groundbreaking, highlighting the structural depth of whale songs.
Garland suggests that these insights into whale song structure could transform how we study complex communication across the animal kingdom.
The studies are published in Science Advances and Science. They mark a major step forward in understanding cetacean intelligence. This is significant for animal language evolution.
