Science News

With its complex interweaving of symbols, structure, and meaning, human language stands apart from other forms of animal communication. But where did it come from? A new paper suggests that researchers look to bird songs and monkey calls to understand how human language might have evolved from simpler, preexisting abilities.

Some birds seem to have grammatical rules in their songs. And they'll let you hear about it if you mess up. Visit Discover Magazine to read this article and other exclusive science and technology news stories.