Sperm Whales Reveal a Sophisticated Vocal Alphabet
New research analyzing 2014–2018 recordings of Caribbean sperm whales finds signs of a highly complex phonetic system in their calls, including vowel-like patterns and diphthongs. Using GANs within Project CETI, scientists identify vowels differentiated by inter-click intervals and suggest these whales may have a developing vocabulary, with a goal to interpret around 20 expressions (e.g., diving, sleeping) by 2031.