Dolphins make sounds that convey more than what meets the human ear. The clicks and whistles are a complex chain of words and sentences that allow these mammals to communicate with one another in a language that is similar to human communication.
Russian researchers at the Karadag Scientific Station recorded two Black Sea bottlenose dolphins, Tasha and Yana, talking to each other. They noticed that each of the animals would pause to listen as the other spoke before responding. The pattern of communication is not different from the advanced way that humans speak to one another, showing that dolphins possess a language that they use to identify themselves, coordinate actions, and maintain relations.
"The analysis of [sounds] registered in our experiments showed that the dolphins took turns in producing [words and phrases] and did not interrupt each other, which gives reason to believe that each of the dolphins listened to the other's pulses before producing its own," Dr. Vyacheslav Ryabov wrote in Science Direct. "Essentially, this exchange resembles a conversation between two people."
For many years, researchers have known that dolphins are very intelligent and can use distinct sounds like clicks or whistles to show their feelings and respond to their own names, according to PNAS. However, the study found an extra layer of how the animals communicate. Dolphins alter the volume and frequency of such sounds, thereby forming words and stringing them together in sentences of up to five words.
According to the study, this language shows all the design features present in human spoken language, indicating a high level of intelligence and consciousness in dolphins. Their language can superficially be considered highly advanced spoken language similar to human language.
While understanding the basics of how dolphins speak to each other is the first step, working to communicate back in their own language could open new channels. The sounds that these animals make and hear are far beyond those within the abilities of a human's range. However, equipment that mimics the sounds made by dolphins could allow scientists to respond back to the animals in a way that they understand.
Researchers are yet to establish what the different frequencies and pitches in the language of dolphins mean. Here is footage for further information: