The study was conducted by Adriano Lameira and Madeleine Hardus, who dedicated their time to observe and analyze the vocalizing behaviors of orangutans in their natural habitats. This research underscores the fascinating fact that humans are not the only species capable of multi-layered vocalization.
Humans use a variety of oral mechanisms to create sounds. For instance, unvoiced sounds of consonants are formed by manipulating the lips, tongue, and jaw, while voiced, open sounds of vowels are produced by activating the vocal folds in the larynx with exhaled air. Remarkably, these researchers have found that orangutans can generate both these sound types simultaneously.
Large male orangutans in Borneo exhibit this capability particularly well. They produce a combination of noises known as "chomps" and "grumbles" when engaged in combative situations. This unique form of communication involves a high level of control and coordination of their vocal apparatus, allowing them to generate a sort of acoustic complexity typically thought exclusive to humans and some bird species.
In a similar vein, female orangutans in Sumatra display this dual sound-making ability when faced with a potential threat. By layering "kiss squeaks" atop "rolling calls," they can alert other orangutans of possible predator danger.
In human communication, the simultaneous production of voiced and voiceless noises is unusual and requires exceptional skill. A prime example of this is beatboxing, a virtuosic vocal performance art that mimics the complex beats of hip hop music. It demands intricate manipulation of the vocal tract to produce multiple sounds at once- much like the ability observed in orangutans.
According to Lameira and Hardus, the findings underscore that the vocal control and coordination abilities of wild great apes have been historically underestimated, compared to the focus on vocal abilities in birds. This recognition invites further research into how our primate relatives utilize their voices, and what that might imply about our own linguistic history.
More intriguingly, this study presents interesting implications for our understanding of the evolution of human speech and the roots of beatboxing. If our shared ancestors with orangutans possessed similar vocal capabilities, this could inform our knowledge of the timeline and development of complex speech and sound-making in humans.
By shedding new light on the underestimated vocal prowess of great apes, this study not only enriches our knowledge of our closest living relatives but also opens doors for further exploration into the origins and evolution of human speech.
Research Report:Wild orangutans can simultaneously use two independent vocal sound sources similarly to songbirds and human beatboxers
Related Links
University of Warwick
All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
