Sperm whales’ clicks resemble human speech
The sperm whale, the world’s largest toothed whale, has the largest brain on Earth. It also produces complex clicks which, according to a new study, resemble human speech.
The study, published in the *Proceedings of the Royal Society*, is based on analyses of recordings made of sperm whales in the waters off the island of Dominica in the Caribbean. Around 200 individuals live in the area year-round, and the researchers, who are conducting their work as part of a project called Ceti, have focused on a group of 15 females and juveniles.
Resembles language
The clicks produced by the whales originate from their enormous heads, which are filled with what is known as spermaceti. These are the loudest sounds of biological origin known on Earth and can reach a volume of 236 decibels – far louder than a jet engine.
The animals communicate with one another using these sounds, sometimes over long distances. According to the analyses, the clicks are not uniform but appear to have the same structure as our own spoken languages. The clicks, known scientifically as ‘codes’, form patterns that bear a strong resemblance to human vowel sounds. They can be long or short, with a high or low pitch.
Individual differences
All in all, it can be said that the vocal sounds resemble an alphabet. It is clear that they convey some form of information in the animals’ communication. Interestingly, there are also individual differences – some ‘speak’ quickly and excitedly, whilst others express themselves more slowly, just like humans.
Recently, in another study, researchers have discovered that different populations of sperm whales have specific dialects – a form of cultural evolution. Perhaps they even have some difficulty understanding one another should they happen to meet.
The overall impression, according to animal communication researchers at the University of California in the USA, who carried out the study in question, is that the sounds made by sperm whales show striking parallels with human language structures. It is possible that, in time, we may learn to interpret more precisely what these mighty animals are ‘saying’ to one another.
The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales. Males can grow to 16 metres in length and weigh 45 tonnes, whilst females reach 11 metres and 15 tonnes.
They can dive to depths of 2,250 metres, where they primarily hunt giant squid.
The sperm whale has the largest brain in the animal kingdom. Its volume is approximately 8,000 cubic centimetres and it weighs between 6.4 and 9.2 kilograms – six times larger than our own brain.
Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society
