Chimpanzees can combine calls to communicate new meaning – study

Researchers suggest this ability might be evolutionarily more ancient than previously thought.

Experts say chimpanzees are known to produce a number of different vocalisations to manage their social and ecological lives (Adrian Soldati/University of Warwick)

Chimpanzees can combine calls to communicate new meaning and signal when there is a threat, a study has found.

Researchers suggest this ability might be evolutionarily more ancient than previously thought.

A key feature of human language is combining words into larger phrases where the meaning of the whole is related to the meaning of the parts.