Do Whales Sing the Same Way as Humans? New Study Finds Language-Like Repeatable Units
Human babies rely on a strategy known as “statistical learning” to discern certain words and patterns as they navigate a complex web of communication. Now, it’s been discovered that whales employ a remarkably similar strategy to communicate. This challenges the long-held belief that languages are a unique aspect of human communication.
A groundbreaking study published in the journal Science has unveiled that the structure of the Humpback whale song mirrors that of human language, wherein shorter sounds are repeated frequently, and more complex sounds occur less often. This pattern follows what is known as the “Zipfian distribution,” a universal principle observed in human languages that evolved through generations to develop these common properties.
In humans, these patterns enable babies to rapidly acquire language skills and communicate effectively. Interestingly, researchers investigated these patterns in whale songs using extensive data gathered over eight years from New Caledonia’s humpback whale populations.
Dr. Jenny Allen, a respected authority on whale song structure at Griffith University and co-author of the study, articulated her awe at the rapidity with which whales could develop new songs and assimilate new patterns. “Human language and whale song are both culturally learned, so whales learn the songs from the other whales that they spend time with. That’s why all the whales in one population will be singing the same song,” Dr. Allen shared.
The phenomenon of cultural learning on such a spatial scale is otherwise only observable in humans, making the findings all the more intriguing.
To validate these insights, a multidisciplinary team that included marine biologists, behavioral ecologists, scientists, and linguists meticulously studied the whale song data. Among them was Prof. Simon Kirby, who noted that the research was informed by the techniques observed in infant language learning in humans. “It sounds technical and complicated,” Kirby explained, “but actually, it’s beautifully simple.”
The researchers applied the same statistical learning framework to analyze whale songs, uncovering remarkable parallels to human linguistic patterns. While these discoveries bridge fascinating similarities between the species, Dr. Allen was keen to underline the distinct roles served by human language and humpback whale song.
“We believe whale song is primarily a reproductive display since it’s only males that sing, and they chiefly sing while traveling to and from the breeding grounds,” she explained. With more complex song structures, it appears the males might be attempting “to impress the ladies or intimidate the guys,” she added.
This revelation not only enriches our understanding of whale communication but also provides fresh perspectives on the shared learning strategies across diverse species. As researchers continue to decipher the intricacies of whale songs, they may unlock further secrets about the evolution of communication and cultural learning itself.
The parallels drawn between the statistical learning in humans and whales present exciting opportunities to explore how other species communicate and adapt culturally through sound patterns. As we dive deeper into the chorus of the natural world, the symphony of species interaction becomes ever more complex and fascinating.
