The pygmy marmoset is the only other nonhuman mammal that scientists have observed babbling. This small South American primate species, however, is not capable of vocal imitation. The greater sac-winged bat, on the other hand, is the first species that can imitate the vocalizations of others and offered the possibility to study pup babbling in detail. The question is, how similar is bat babbling to human infant babbling?
To answer this question, the vocal development of wild pups in eight colonies was monitored. The S. bilineata find shelter in tree crevices and outer walls of buildings during the day. They are very light-tolerant and adults tend to stay apart from each other, making it easier to observe and record individuals. The forearms of specific bats were marked with colored plastic bands to be able to recognize them. Twenty pups were followed from birth until weaning, and their babbling bouts were recorded. Adult bats produce vocalizations that last for only a few minutes, whereas pups babble away between sunrise and sunset in the day roost.
It has been known for some time that pups learn how to sing by vocally imitating adult tutors while babbling. A new study provides the first formal analysis that their babbling really does share many of the features that characterize babbling in human infants: duplication of syllables, use of rhythm, and an early onset of the babbling phase during development. Bat pups’ babbling consists of syllable precursors that are part of the adult vocal repertoire.
Furthermore, pup babbling is universal. Each pup, regardless of sex and regional origin, babbled during its development. During babble sequences, mothers and pups interacted behaviorally and vocally. Mothers produced a distinct call type directed at pups while babbling. The results were clear: for the first time, a nonhuman mammal has been found that changes the color of voice depending on the addressee. Female bats also use baby talk!
The greater sac-winged bat is a promising candidate for cross-species comparisons about the evolution of human language, according to our research results. Babbling is a way to observe the ongoing vocal learning happening in the brain. Pups imitate the adult song while babbling, which offers insight into when learning is taking place and allows for the study of genes involved in vocal imitation. Since bats and humans share basic brain architecture, we can apply our research findings from bats to humans. It is fascinating that two very different mammal species share similarities in how they acquire complex adult vocal repertoires, such as language. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license, and Ahana Aurora Fernandez, a postdoctoral researcher in behavioral ecology and bioacoustics at the Museum fГјr Naturkunde, Berlin, is the author.
FAQ
What can baby bats teach us about human language development?
Baby bats can teach us a lot about human language development because they use a similar process to develop their communication skills. Just like human infants, baby bats babble with their mothers to practice and refine their vocalizations. This suggests that language learning may be a universal process among mammals.
How do baby bats babble?
Baby bats babble by making a series of vocalizations that are similar to adult bat calls. However, their babbling is less structured and more variable than adult calls. This allows them to experiment with different sounds and learn how to produce the specific calls used by their species.
What is the significance of baby bat babbling?
The significance of baby bat babbling is that it provides insight into the development of communication skills in mammals. By studying the babbling behavior of baby bats, researchers can better understand how language learning occurs and how it may be influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
Can we apply what we learn from baby bat babbling to human language development?
Yes, we can apply what we learn from baby bat babbling to human language development. Both species use a similar process of babbling to practice and refine their communication skills. This suggests that language learning may be a universal process among mammals and that there may be common underlying mechanisms that govern language development.
What are the potential implications of studying baby bat babbling?
The potential implications of studying baby bat babbling are significant. By understanding how language learning occurs in other mammals, we may be able to develop new interventions and therapies for human language disorders. In addition, studying babbling behavior in bats may provide insights into the evolution of language and how it developed in humans.
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