A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich and Harvard University focused on wild bonobos in the Kokolopori Community Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The study revealed that bonobos often combine calls in ways that reflect complex meaning relationships, a characteristic previously thought to be exclusive to human language.

This finding suggests that the roots of language's compositional nature may extend back to a common ancestor shared by humans and bonobos, which existed approximately 7 to 13 million years ago.

Compositionality, a key feature of language, allows for the creation of phrases where meaning depends on both the individual elements and their arrangement, encompassing both trivial and complex forms.

In this context, compositionality can be trivial, where the meaning is simply the sum of its parts, or nontrivial, where one part modifies another's meaning, akin to human language.

The research led to the creation of a 'bonobo dictionary', cataloging bonobo calls and their meanings, marking a significant advancement in our understanding of animal communication.

Overall, these findings challenge the notion that complex vocal combinations are exclusive to humans, highlighting the sophisticated communication abilities of bonobos.