Chimpanzees can combine calls to communicate new meaning – study

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

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.