Dolphins communicate using complex linguistic structures
While researchers have found that dolphins utilize sophisticated acoustic signals and vocal learning to encode contextual information, scientists remain divided and lack consensus on whether these systems meet the criteria for human-like complex linguistic structures.
The retrieved papers show active research into dolphin and cetacean communication systems, identifying complex acoustic sequences, tonal whistles, and vocal learning (Papers 2, 7, 10). However, broader reviews on animal communication and linguistics (Papers 0, 4) emphasize that researchers still lack consensus and face major controversies regarding whether non-human animals truly employ complex linguistic structures or syntax. Therefore, the claim is best classified as contested.
Andreas J, Beguš G, Bronstein MM, Diamant R, Delaney D, Gero S, Goldwasser S, Gruber DF, de Haas S, Malkin P, Pavlov N, Payne R, Petri G, Rus D, Sharma P, Tchernov D, Tønnesen P, Torralba A, Vogt D, Wood RJ. Toward understanding the communication in sperm whales.. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.104393
Highlights that cetaceans possess complex social structures and click-based encodings suitable for studying language-like higher-level structures.
Kershenbaum A, Blumstein DT, Roch MA, Akçay Ç, Backus G, Bee MA, Bohn K, Cao Y, Carter G, Cäsar C, Coen M, DeRuiter SL, Doyle L, Edelman S, Ferrer-i-Cancho R, Freeberg TM, Garland EC, Gustison M, Harley HE, Huetz C, Hughes M, Hyland Bruno J, Ilany A, Jin DZ, Johnson M, Ju C, Karnowski J, Lohr B, Manser MB, McCowan B, Mercado E 3rd, Narins PM, Piel A, Rice M, Salmi R, Sasahara K, Sayigh L, Shiu Y, Taylor C, Vallejo EE, Waller S, Zamora-Gutierrez V. Acoustic sequences in non-human animals: a tutorial review and prospectus.. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12160
Points out that while animals generate acoustic sequences, researchers have only begun to characterize them and there is little agreement on their meaning or linguistic structure.
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Kershenbaum A, Roch MA. An image processing based paradigm for the extraction of tonal sounds in cetacean communications.. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.4828821
Demonstrates that dolphin tonal whistles encode contextual information and distinct identity groups, supporting sophisticated signaling.
Zamorano-Abramson J, Michon M, Hernández-Lloreda MV, Aboitiz F. Multimodal imitative learning and synchrony in cetaceans: A model for speech and singing evolution.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1061381
Notes that cetaceans display vocal learning and multimodal communication systems that serve as models for studying the evolution of complex communication.
Berthet M, Coye C, Dezecache G, Kuhn J. Animal linguistics: a primer.. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12897
Emphasizes that major controversies remain and no consensus exists regarding the linguistic capacities of non-human species due to inconsistencies in terminology and analysis.
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