After listening to numerous ape calls, a group of scientists believe they have identified elements of human language. This involves the capacity to combine strings of sounds to form new meanings.
A groundbreaking discovery published in the journal Science has sparked both praise and skepticism among scholars.
According to Federica Amich, a primatologist at the University of Leipzig in Germany, this study offers insight into the origins of language millions of years before humans emerged. Dr. Amich stated, “The distinction between humans and other primates in terms of communication is much clearer and definitive than previously assumed.”
Nevertheless, some researchers argue that the study, which focused on bonobos, a close relative of chimpanzees, doesn’t shed light on how words are used. Johann Borchuis, a neurobiologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, commented, “The current findings do not contribute to our understanding of the evolution of language.”
Source: www.nytimes.com