Research led by Dr Katie Slocombe and Dr Anne Schel from the University of York has discovered remarkable similarities between the production of vocalisations of wild chimpanzees and human language.

The project, conducted in Uganda, examined the degree of intentionality wild chimpanzees have over their alarm calls.  The results of their research, which demonstrated that chimpanzee alarm calls show numerous hallmarks of intentional communication, was published today in PLOS ONE. The research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRCa).

Many scientists consider non-human primate vocalisations to be a simple read-out of emotion (e.g. alarm calls are just an expression of fear) and argue they are not produced intentionally, in sharp contrast to both human language and great ape gestural signals. This has led some scientists to suggest that human language evolved from a primitive gestural communication system, rather than a vocal communication system. 

The study challenges this view and shows that chimpanzees do not just alarm call because they are frightened of a predator; instead, they appear to produce certain alarm calls intentionally in a tactical and goal directed way. 

In Uganda, the researchers presented wild chimpanzees with a moving snake model and monitored their vocal and behavioural responses. They found that the chimpanzees were more likely to produce alarm calls when close friends arrived in the vicinity. They looked at and monitored group members both before and during the production of calls and critically, they continued to call until all group members were safe from the predator. Together these behaviours indicate the calls are produced intentionally to warn others of the danger.

Dr Slocombe said: “These behaviours indicate that these alarm calls were produced intentionally to warn others of danger and thus the study shows a key similarity in the mechanisms involved in the production of chimpanzee vocalisations and human language.

“Our results demonstrate that certain vocalisations of our closest living relatives qualify as intentional signals, in a directly comparable way to many great ape gestures, indicating that language may have originated from a multimodal vocal-gestural communication system.”

In 2012 Dr Slocombe and Dr Bridget Waller, University of Portsmouth, were awarded a British Psychological Society Public Engagement grant to develop two online interactive games that would help develop understanding of the similarities and differences between human and primate behaviour. 

Dr Slocombe said: “We wanted to spark a real interest in comparative psychology research by using the fascination most young people have with primates. This will hopefully translate into a greater understanding of the breadth of psychology and maybe encourage more young people to study the discipline.”

The games are now available online. So why not have a go and test your mental skills against our primate cousins or explore the working conditions of scientists in the wild. 

The Society runs an annual public engagement grant scheme. Through these grants we aim to help members promote the relevance of evidence-based psychology to wider audiences either through direct work or by organising interesting and relevant communications activities. Find out more.