A groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports suggests that chimpanzees may possess the ability to speak human words, challenging previous assumptions about their vocal capabilities. This research, conducted by a team of speech specialists and psychologists, examined old footage of chimpanzees and uncovered evidence that some of these primates have learned to produce basic human speech.
The study reveals that, in an online experiment, human listeners unfamiliar with the origins of the recordings perceived chimpanzee vocalizations as resembling syllabic utterances. The most commonly identified sounds were similar to “ma-ma,” among other syllables. Researchers argue that these findings indicate that the vocal potential of great apes has been underestimated and that chimpanzees have the neural foundations necessary for speech.
The research revisits an intriguing historical case involving a husband-and-wife team who raised an infant chimpanzee in their home, attempting to teach it simple words such as “mama,” “papa,” and “cup.” Although their efforts were initially dismissed as unethical and the project was criticized for separating the chimp from its natural mother, the new study revisited hours of old footage from this project.
One notable video from the collection shows the chimpanzee repeatedly saying “papa” and even managing to articulate “cup” once. Another clip reveals the chimp clearly uttering “mama,” with a similar vocalization observed in footage from Italy. Researchers described these vocalizations as “essentially word-like,” suggesting that, under the right conditions, chimpanzees can produce sounds resembling human speech.
The study’s authors call for a re-evaluation of past dismissals and emphasize the need for fresh perspectives on the vocal capabilities of great apes. They argue that given appropriate circumstances, chimpanzees could indeed have the potential to produce human-like speech, highlighting a significant area for future research.
This research invites the scientific community to reconsider the boundaries of animal communication and the potential for cross-species vocal learning, offering new insights into the cognitive and linguistic abilities of our closest relatives.
Sources By Agencies
