Depending on the skill level of the person involved, beatboxing can be anything from a truly impressive skill to a potentially embarrassing habit. But according to a new study by researchers at the University of Warwick, even orangutans might be capable of beatboxing. To be specific, in the research published in the journal PNAS Nexus says that orangutans can make two separate sounds at the same time, just like songbirds and human beatboxers. These findings could give clues about the evolution of human speech, according to the researchers. “Humans use the lips, tongue, and jaw to make the unvoiced sounds of consonants, while activating the vocal folds in the larynx with exhaled air to make the voiced, open sounds of vowels,” said Adriano Lameira, corresponding author of the article, in a press statement. Lameira is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Warwick. The new research found that orangutans can also produce both type of sounds simultaneously. The researchers observed two groups of vocalising orangutans in Borneo and Sumatra for as long as 3,800 hours and found individuals in both groups using the same kind of vocal skill. “For example, large male orangutans in Borneo will produce noises known as “chomps” in combination with “grumbles” in combative situations. Female orangutans in Sumatra produce “kiss squeaks” at the same time as “rolling calls” to alert others of a possible predator threat,” added Lameira. The researchers believe that the vocal control and coordination abilities of wild great apes have been underestimated compared to the focus on the vocal abilities of birds. Orangutans and humans are closely related and we share common ancestors. This means that the research holds implications for our vocal capabilities and our shared ancestors as well as the evolution of human speech, and yes, beatboxing.
