Are Orangutans Really Talking More Than We Thought?

Alright, let’s try to get past the surface-level interpretation here for a moment. When we hear “animal communication,” our first instinct tends to be: “Yeah, they make sounds, they signal danger, they mark territory.” But recent research throws a wrench in that simple story. Especially when it comes to orangutans. You know, those big, gentle giants of the forest? Turns out, they might be more sophisticated in their vocalizations than we’ve given them credit for.

New Insights into Orangutan Communication

By the way, did you know that in May and June 2025, scientists published findings showing orangutans—specifically Sumatran females—using recursive, multi-layered calls? That’s right. Recursive structure, meaning their calls are built in nested, layered patterns. Think of it like sentences within sentences, phrases within phrases. And I like it! Because this is basically what we consider a hallmark of human language—complex, hierarchical, layered. But here’s the kicker: orangutans are doing it too, in their alarm calls, during threats in the wild.

Recursive calls in orangutans challenge the idea that such layered communication is unique to humans, opening new questions about primate cognition.

BTW! If you like my content, here you can see an article I wrote that might interest you: Edward Chang Wins 2025 Neuroscience Prize

What Does This Mean for Language and Cognition?

On the other hand, what does this really mean? Well, traditionally, linguists and psychologists have pinned recursion—this layered, nested structure—as a uniquely human trait. It’s what makes language so powerful: the ability to embed clauses, to build complex ideas within ideas. So, seeing it in orangutan calls challenges this long-held belief. It pushes us to ask: are we overestimating the cognitive gap between us and our primate relatives? And, more importantly, does this mean the roots of language go deeper into primate evolution than we thought?

Now, let’s focus on the details that matter. The research, led by the University of Warwick and the University of Torino, analyzed alarm calls of female orangutans in their natural habitat. Using sophisticated acoustic analysis, they found three levels of recursive organization—sounds nest into bouts, bouts nest into longer series, creating a hierarchical pattern. This isn’t just some random noise; it’s a layered, rhythmic structure that mirrors the nested clauses we use in speech. And, why don’t we ask ourselves if this nesting in orangutans could be a precursor to the cognitive capacities needed for language?

Implications for Evolutionary Psychology

Here’s what really gets to the heart of it: if orangutans can produce recursive calls with multiple layers, then the idea that recursion is exclusive to humans is on shaky ground. It’s not just a neat coincidence; it hints that the cognitive building blocks—like working memory, hierarchical organization—might have been present in our common ancestors. This opens up new pathways for studying how language might have evolved from these primitive, layered communication systems.

And let’s move on to what this means for our understanding of evolution. The presence of such complex vocal structures in orangutans suggests that the cognitive prerequisites for language are more ancient than previously believed. It’s not just about vocal ability—it’s about the underlying mental architecture. This pushes us to reconsider the uniqueness of human language and the special cognitive toolkit we think we have. Because, honestly, if orangutans are doing it, what about other primates? What about us, really?

Final Thoughts: A Shared Evolutionary Journey

Finally, I think maybe it’s a better idea to keep an open mind. These findings don’t prove that orangutans speak in sentences or have grammar like us. But they do challenge the notion that recursive, hierarchical communication is purely human. It’s a reminder that evolution is messy, layered—just like orangutan calls—and that the story of language might be more of a shared journey than a solo project. So, what do you think? Are we the only species with this kind of layered communication? Or is it just the tip of the iceberg? Read more, question more, and let’s keep digging into what these primates can teach us about our own origins.

Sara Morgan

Dr. Sara Morgan takes a close, critical look at recent developments in psychology and mental health, using her background as a psychologist. She used to work in academia, and now she digs into official data, calling out inconsistencies, missing info, and flawed methods—especially when they seem designed to prop up the mainstream psychological narrative. She is noted for her facility with words and her ability to “translate” complex psychological concepts and data into ideas we can all understand. It is common to see her pull evidence to systematically dismantle weak arguments and expose the reality behind the misconceptions.