Two Sumerian Orangutans. Credit: Madeleine Hardus
Surprising Discovery: Orangutans Show Language Skills Once Thought Uniquely Human
In the forests of Sumatra, wild orangutans are making scientists rethink what makes human language special. A new study from the University of Warwick shows that these apes use complex vocal patterns. This challenges the long-held belief that only humans use such forms of communication.
What Are Recursive Calls?
The researchers found that orangutans use something called “recursive” sounds. These are vocal patterns where one sound is nested inside another. Humans use this in language to create long, layered sentences. Until now, many experts thought only humans could do this.
Expert Opinion
Dr. Adriano Lameira, one of the researchers, said, “Orangutans can build vocal sequences in a structured way. This suggests they have more complex communication abilities than we once believed.”
Why This Matters
This discovery could change how we understand the evolution of language. It shows that the roots of human speech might go back millions of years. Orangutans may have inherited these abilities from a common ancestor we share with them.
Other studies have already shown that orangutans can mimic vowel and consonant-like sounds. They also change their calls depending on the situation. Now, with this new study, scientists have more proof of their advanced communication skills.
Rethinking Human Language
This research shows that language may not be unique to humans after all. Instead, it could be part of our shared past with other primates. The more we study animal communication, the more we learn about our own origins.
What other hidden talents could our animal relatives be waiting to reveal?
What other hidden talents could our animal relatives be waiting to reveal?
As we continue to explore the intelligence of other species, studies like this help expand our understanding of evolution, language, and cognition. This discovery not only adds to the latest science news of 2025 but also fits into a larger picture of breakthroughs in science and technology news. From new science research in 2025 to global warming updates and environmental issues in 2025, the world of science is rapidly evolving. Stay tuned to Daily Science News 2025 and follow the most popular science articles, gadget and tech news today, and health and biology news in 2025 right here on one of the best science blogs. Don’t miss future updates on AI and robotics breakthroughs, latest tech innovations in science, and the most talked-about discoveries from the USA and Australia’s latest science tech news.
Reference: “Third-order self-embedded vocal motifs in wild orangutans, and the selective evolution of recursion” by Chiara De Gregorio, Marco Gamba and Adriano R. Lameira, 16 May 2025, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15373
