Sperm Whale Communication Shows Human-Like Language Patterns

A study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley’s Linguistics Department and Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) has found that sperm whale communication exhibits acoustic properties similar to human language, specifically through the use of vowel-like sounds.

The research, published on April 14, 2026, in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, suggests that the complexity of sperm whale communication approaches that of human language. This contradicts previous scientific assumptions that whale communication functioned similarly to a morse code system based primarily on rhythmic patterns.

The Role of Spectral Patterns and Formants

Sperm whales produce communication sounds by flapping phonic lips in their nose to create clicks. These clicks are organized into rhythmic series known as codas, which vary between different whale clans.

The new research identifies a dimension of communication based on formants. In human linguistics, formants are the relationship between different frequencies present in a sound, which allow listeners to distinguish one vowel from another.

The study, titled Vowel- and Diphthong-like Spectral Patterns in Sperm Whale Codas, discovered that sperm whales utilize two distinct vowel patterns, identified as an ɑ-vowel and an i-vowel. The researchers identified several diphthong-like patterns within the whales’ communication.

According to Gašper Beguš, a Berkeley Linguistics Professor and the linguistics lead at Project CETI, these whale vowels share substantial similarities with human vowels, including variations in frequency, trajectory, timing, and length.

Intentionality and Dialogue

The findings indicate that the production of these ɑ-vowels, i-vowels, and diphthongs is likely controlled and intentional across almost all whales studied. The researchers observed that whales exchange these sounds with one another in a manner that resembles a dialogue.

We don’t understand the meaning yet, but we know that whales produce these sounds intentionally and we know that they differentiate between them.

Gašper Beguš

While the specific meanings of these vocalizations remain unknown, the ability of the whales to differentiate between and intentionally produce these spectral patterns suggests a level of linguistic complexity previously unrecognized in the species.

Project CETI and Interdisciplinary Research

This discovery is part of a broader, ongoing effort by Project CETI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to decoding sperm whale communication. The initiative employs a multidisciplinary team of experts to analyze the acoustic data, including:

• Artificial intelligence researchers
• Marine biologists
• Cryptographers
• Underwater acousticians
• Roboticists

By applying AI and linguistic analysis to the whale’s click-based system, the team is attempting to move beyond the study of simple rhythms to understand the deeper structural components of the whales’ communication system.

Professor Beguš noted that while these vocalizations may sound like an alien, ocean intelligence on the surface, a close analysis reveals that the mechanisms are far more similar to human speech than previously thought.