03.04.2025Extensive compositionality in the vocal system of bonobos

Researchers from the IEA have shown that bonobos – our closest living relatives – create complex and meaningful combinations of calls resembling human word combinations. These results challenge long-held assumptions about what makes human communication unique and suggest that key aspects of language are evolutionary ancient.

Full article in Science: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv1170