Study reveals dolphins employ infantile language when communicating with their young

It seems that baby talk isn’t exclusive to human infants.

A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that bottlenose dolphins use a form of baby talk, known as motherese, when communicating with their calves. The research team discovered that mother dolphins alter the tone of their signature whistles, which are unique whistles that carry identity information, when interacting with their offspring.

“Our findings demonstrate an instance of convergent evolution of motherese in a non-human mammal, providing support for the hypothesis that motherese can facilitate vocal learning and bonding in both humans and non-humans,” stated the researchers.

The researchers analyzed recordings of 19 adult female dolphins during catch-and-release events near Sarasota Bay in Florida. The dolphins were temporarily fitted with hydrophones attached to their heads using suction cups.

The recorded whistles showed that the sounds used to communicate with babies had significantly higher maximum frequencies and wider frequency ranges.

The purpose or function of baby talk in bottlenose dolphins is not yet determined, although it is believed to enhance attention, bonding, and vocal learning.

“Dolphins have been observed to possess vocal production learning abilities, which is a key aspect of human communication,” said Nicole El Haddad, co-lead author of the journal article. “This study provides further evidence of similarities between dolphins and humans.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, calves spend up to six years with their mothers. During their early years, they maintain a “baby position” and stay close to their mothers.

Other species, such as female greater sac-winged bats and adult male zebra finches, have also been found to engage in child-directed communication.