Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology:

Humans are the only species known to use full language, which involves combining sounds into words and words into structured sentences that convey infinite meanings. This process follows linguistic rules that determine how meaning changes with context.

For example, the word “ape” can be used in compositional ways to add meaning—such as “the ape eats” or “big ape”—or in non-compositional idioms like “go ape,” which takes on a new meaning entirely. Syntax, the rule system that governs word order, is essential to this process. For instance, “go ape” and “ape goes” use the same words but convey different meanings due to their order.

One of the central questions in science is understanding the origin of this exceptional linguistic ability. Researchers often compare human language with the vocal behavior of other animals, especially primates, to explore how language evolved. Most non-human primates rely on individual call types and have only a few known call combinations, usually to warn about predators.

This has led to the belief that their vocal systems are too limited to be considered precursors of human language. However, we may be underestimating the communicative abilities of our closest relatives. New findings suggest that chimpanzees may use call combinations in more complex and meaningful ways than previously recognized. [Continue reading…]