# Chimpanzees Learn Vocal Communication Through Social Observation New research reveals chimpanzees acquire specific vocalization patterns by observing and mimicking adult role models. - **Source:** [Popular Science](https://www.popsci.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [science](https://brifing.si/c/science) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/19f8d130-bb19-4514-b714-0be620474601 ## Challenging Instinctual Vocalization Theories Biologists previously believed chimpanzee vocalizations were purely instinctual and biologically fixed from birth. However, a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests these primates learn sounds from one another. This research indicates that chimpanzee communication is more flexible and socially influenced than scientists once suspected. ## Focusing on Raspberry Sounds Researchers analyzed the unvoiced raspberry call, which involves pursing lips similarly to human actions. The study observed 91 chimpanzees ranging from birth to 55 years old. By comparing wild populations in Ivory Coast with peer-raised orphans in Sierra Leone, the team identified significant differences in how the sound is utilized. ## Geographic Variations in Usage Wild chimpanzees in Taï National Park almost exclusively used the raspberry sound during grooming sessions. Conversely, orphaned juveniles at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary employed the call across diverse social situations. These distinct patterns suggest that the specific context of a sound is not innate but rather a learned communal practice. ## Adults as Social Models When an adult chimpanzee joined the sanctuary group, younger chimps gradually adjusted their vocal patterns to match the newcomer. This behavior demonstrates that adults serve as essential role models, helping communities establish shared communication conventions. The findings highlight how social environments actively shape the vocal repertoire of these primate groups over time. ## Continuity With Human Language Richard Moore, a co-author from the University of Warwick, notes that this discovery reveals continuity between chimpanzee vocal learning and human language acquisition. Just as humans learn word meanings through communal agreement rather than inherent properties, chimpanzees appear to adopt shared meanings for existing sounds through their interactions with other group members. ## Learning Meaning Over Sounds While chimpanzees may struggle to produce entirely new vocalizations, they demonstrate a clear ability to learn the meaning behind sounds they already possess. The research suggests that even vocalizations once considered fixed can be modified by social learning. This indicates that the full extent of their communicative potential remains largely unexplored by scientists. ## Grooming and Vocal Mechanics Behavioral ecologist Catherine Crockford suggests that the raspberry sound might be linked to grooming mechanics. Since chimpanzees use their lips to extract parasites, generating a similar vocalization during grooming sessions may be physically intuitive. While communities might discover this utility independently, the specific application of the call remains a social convention. ## Future Research Directions The study marks the first time such learned, agreed-upon sound usage has been documented in chimpanzee calls. Researchers emphasize that more investigation is required to fully understand how these conventions evolve across different populations. This work opens new pathways for studying the cognitive and social foundations of primate communication systems globally. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.popsci.com/environment/chimpanzees-blow-raspberries-learn-sounds/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._