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Two dolphins have been recorded having a conversation for the first time after scientists developed an underwater microphone which could distinguish the animals' different "voices".

Researchers have known for decades that the mammals had an advanced form of communication, using distinctive clicks and whistles to show they are excited, happy, stressed or separated from the group.

But scientists have now shown that dolphins alter the volume and frequency of pulsed clicks to form individual "words" which they string together into sentences in much the same way that humans speak.

Researchers at the Karadag Nature Reserve, in Feodosia, Ukraine, recorded two Black Sea bottlenose dolphins, called Yasha and Yana, talking to each other in a pool. They found that each dolphin would listen to a sentence of pulses without interruption, before replying.

Lead researcher Dr Vyacheslav Ryabov, said: “Essentially, this exchange resembles a conversation between two people.

“Each pulse that is produced by dolphins is different from another by its appearance in the time domain and by the set of spectral components in the frequency domain.

“In this regard, we can assume that each pulse represents a phoneme or a word of the dolphin's spoken language.

“The analysis of numerous pulses registered in our experiments showed that the dolphins took turns in producing [sentences] 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.

“This language exhibits all the design features present in the human spoken language, this indicates a high level of intelligence and consciousness in dolphins, and their language can be ostensibly considered a highly developed spoken language, akin to the human language.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...ecorded-having-a-conversation-for-first-time/

Can't wait until we develop a way to understand and then communicate with dolphins. It will almost be like communicating with aliens.

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

 

[sixteen-bit]

I know there's a Simpsons gif for this.

 

[Malreyn]

I know there's a Neogaf gif for this.

Fixed

 

[Alexlf]

Wow, this could actually be really big. Cautiously optimistic.

 

[mike6467]

I thought this was going to be about how Miami fucked up the game against Seattle and how they planned to fix their issues.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

I know there's a Simpsons gif for this.

Snorky! Talk! Man!

 

[OnPoint]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

Considering those that are 'in the country' are imprisoned in aquariums to perform labor against their will, this parallel you're drawing just looks stronger.

 

[RobertM]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

They are usually enslaved by a country and the ocean is anyones game.

 

[SL128]

I know there's a Simpsons gif for this.

 

[VendettaRed07]

I know there's a Simpsons gif for this.

edit: son of a....

beaten.

 

[RSTEIN]

lol, love the image provided in the article of the dolphins talking:

 

[RS4-]

Dolphins remember the time we were visited by aliens. They'll tell us how to unlock FTL

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

Considering those that are 'in the country' are imprisoned in aquariums to perform labor against their will, this parallel you're drawing just looks stronger.

If we can ever speak with them directly, I wonder if they'd be interested in learning about our Lord, Jesus Christ. If a dolphin accepts God into their hearts, will they be allowed into heaven




In all seriousness, I do legitimately wonder if dolphins would be advanced enough to have complex thoughts beyond basic survival, or how they would view their world.

 

[smudge]

So long and thanks for all the fish

 

[kinggroin]

Wait till we discover their educational text books. Shit'll be blown wide open.

 

[Surfinn]

I wonder what they have to say about the way we treat their species.

Pretty fascinating stuff. I hope we can figure out their language.

 

[OnPoint]

If we can ever speak with them directly, I wonder if they'd be interested in learning about our Lord, Jesus Christ. If a dolphin accepts God into their hearts, will they be allowed into heaven?

I would ride a dolphin into heaven.

 

[sans_pants]

Yet some people slaughter them for food or lock them in zoos


Shameful

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

Wouldn't it also be crazy to think of the types of art/literature produced by dolphins? Like if they had their own version of Shakespeare?

I'm not trying to be funny with that. If they developed language, then literature isn't too far behind, and since they can't write it down, it would likely be performative... like a dolphin play, or whatever their version of it is.

 

[Easy_D]

I would ride a dolphin into heaven.

Is this the terrorists law?

 

[SpaceWolf]

I wonder what they have to say about the way we treat their species.

Soon.

 

[MrToughPants]

I know there's a Simpsons gif for this.

Wellthereitis.gif

 

[BronsonLee]

So long and thanks for all the fish

How the fuck did this take so long

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

In all seriousness, I do legitimately wonder if dolphins would be advanced enough to have complex thoughts beyond basic survival, or how they would view their world.

Their brains are fucking huge, for one thing. They can be curious, playful, needlessly violent and have exhibited many other advanced social traits.

 

[Aeriscloud]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

Too late.

 

[GunslingerVit]

Douglas Adams was right.

Spoiler

Beaten by far.

 

[EightBitNate]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

Lol

 

[Slaythe]

Although dolphins can be incredibly intelligent and are often affectionate toward and form bonds with humans (they have been know to give gifts to people in Australia, team up with Brazilian fishermen, and blow fun bubble rings, for example), the animals can be incredibly dangerous, too.

They try to rape and drown people; they gang rape their females and sometimes hold them hostage for weeks; they murder baby porpoises for fun; they kill the babies of rival male dolphins, because as soon as her child dies, a female dolphin is ready to be raped and impregnated immediately.

Yeah er....

At least that explains that.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...ecorded-having-a-conversation-for-first-time/

Can't wait until we develop a way to understand and then communicate with dolphins. It will almost be like communicating with aliens.

I wonder how they'll take it when we tell them we've been destroying the oceans.

 

[jufonuk]

great now I have to be paranoid about Dolphins talking about me.

I will elbow drop you fools!!

 

[N.Domixis]

Even though they are smart, the down side is that they live in water and they have no arms. If these two didn't happen they would probably eventually become a civilization.

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

Also, I'd be curious as to if they developed any sort social constructs that language helps to provide. Do all dolphins speak the same language?

Too late.

Lol.

 

[GaimeGuy]

I think we already knew that dolphins, whales, and elephants give each other names. (They can call out individuals), and that whales also "sing", producing elaborate sequences of unique, melodic sounds which serve as a form of long distance communication. Elephants also have elaborate funeral rituals for the deceased (and mourn the deaths of strangers, relatives, and friends, even those from other species, showcasing an inate biological yearning to empathize and connect with others, which two way communication almost requires.)

That these creatures have even more elaborate spoken languages which allow for individual, face to face correspondences, not just summonings of individuals or broad, long range general announcements should come as no surprise. But it's still fascinating to see.


(On another note: the domesticated dog is better than any other species at reading human body language, and humans are unusually adept at reading canine body language, a byproduct of our coevolution as species).

 

[EchoChamber]

Yeah er....

At least that explains that.

Basically they are water humans.

 

[jmdajr]

Oh. Those Dolphins.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Yeah er....

At least that explains that.

So what you're saying is, they're no more terrible than humanity was pre-civilization?

 

[Angelus Errare]

Reading the title, I really thought this was about the Miami Dolphins for some reason.

 

[SaganIsGOAT]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

😂

 

[OnPoint]

~ I'm such a baby cuz the dolphins make me cry ~

Hootie and the Blowfish - "Only Wanna Be With You"

Is Darius Rucker the key? Can he understand what they're saying?

 

[Reverend Funk]

Probably talking bout the big game

 

[GaimeGuy]

Even though they are smart, the down side is that they live in water and they have no arms. If these two didn't happen they would probably eventually become a civilization.

Dolphin populations off the Australian coast have been observed transferring knowledge both vertically (across generations) and laterally (within the same generation, within and across pods) pertaining to tool use.

 

[MechDX]

Probably talking bout the big game

 

[Laevateinn]

Ecco was a documentary.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Dolphin populations off the Australian coast have been observed transferring knowledge both vertically (across generations) and laterally (within the same generation, within and across pods) pertaining to tool use.

What kind of tools do they use?

 

[GrantDaNasty]

Well, they better learn to speak English and stand for the National Anthem or get out of my country.

Amazing first post.


Also, you think Dolphins talk shit about Japan?

 

[TAJ]

Is Darius Rucker the key? Can he understand what they're saying?

Maybe he was just molested by a dolphin.

 

[StarCreator]

Also, I'd be curious as to if they developed any sort social constructs that language helps to provide. Do all dolphins speak the same language?

Pretty much my question. Can dolphins born and raised in captivity communicate effectively with wild dolphins, or would they be effectively mute? Does this kind of communication arise between wild dolphins at all or is it unique to this pair of dolphins only?

 

[Newt]

So long and thanks for all the fish

So sad that it has come to this.

 

[_Ryo_]

Damn. This is amazing but I'm kind of afraid that people will try to weaponize dolphins now. No, seriously. What if you could teach a dolphin to understand English? Dolphin spys everywhere.