Sperm whales are communicating in a way that is more complex than previously thought. That's the conclusion by scientists who are studying the animals in the Caribbean. Researchers say their vocalizations show what they believe is a phonetic alphabet.

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery indicating that sperm whales communicate using a form of complex language that may include a phonetic alphabet. This latest research, conducted in the Caribbean, analyzes the vocal patterns of sperm whales, revealing a level of sophistication in their communication methods that was previously unknown. By studying over 8,700 audio clips of sperm whale vocalizations, known as codas, researchers have identified what appears to be a highly structured system of clicks. These clicks resemble the intricacy found in the communications of other animals and, intriguingly, certain aspects of human speech.

The study is a component of Project SETI, the Cetacean Translation Initiative Machine Learning Team's effort to understand cetacean language. For years, the scientific community has sought to decode the meaning behind the codas sperm whales use to communicate. This newest finding suggests these codas may not be random but instead could consist of distinct sets that form the basis of a phonetic alphabet. Through this alphabet, it is theorized, sperm whales could construct complex messages, akin to words and phrases used by humans.

Project SETI's current focus is on the non-invasive observation of these communications, as sperm whales are considered a vulnerable species, and their communication system is believed to be socially transmitted. The discovery of a phonetic alphabet among sperm whales opens the door to numerous questions about the depth and nature of their social interactions. It also raises possibilities about the parallels between their communication systems and human language, including the potential for humans to eventually understand and perhaps communicate with these majestic marine mammals. While some experts liken the whale's clicks to music, the overarching question remains: What are the sperm whales saying, and could humans learn to speak their language? This fascinating area of research is just beginning, with much more to explore in the quest to fully understand sperm whale communication.



Scientists discover sperm whale 'phonetic alphabet'

Are these just clicks, or are we listening to a complex language? That's the question scientists are grappling with, which could change our understanding of the giant marine mammals. Sperm whales communicate with each other using little bursts of clicking noises called codas that sound a little bit like Morse code. Our research shows that these codas have a complex internal structure with similarities to aspects of some other animal communication systems, and even some aspects of human language. The research is a part of the Project SETI, the Cetacean Translation Initiative Machine Learning Team. They've examined more than 8,700 audio snippets of sperm whale clicks, known as codas. Scientists have been trying for decades to understand what those clicks might mean. While they still don't know, they now think there are sets of clicks that make up a phonetic alphabet that the whales might use to build the rough equivalent of words and phrases. Project SETI is really focused on listening right now, that this is an incredibly vulnerable population with a socially transmitted communication system that we really don't want to disturb. And so we're just at the very beginning of this process, and I think there's a lot more research that we have to do before we know whether it's a good idea to try to communicate with them, or really even to have a sense of whether that will be possible. Experts say sperm whales seem to have sophisticated social ties, and deciphering their communication systems could reveal parallels with human language and society. Though some believe the clicks may be more akin to music, if they are indeed speaking, the big question is, what are they saying, and could we learn to speak back? Alex Baird, Al Jazeera.

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