Multi-level combinatoriality in magpie non-song vocalizations
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Multi-level combinatoriality in magpie non-song vocalizations. / Walsh, Sarah L.; Engesser, Sabrina; Townsend, Simon W.; Ridley, Amanda R.
In: Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Vol. 20, No. 199, 20220679, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Multi-level combinatoriality in magpie non-song vocalizations
AU - Walsh, Sarah L.
AU - Engesser, Sabrina
AU - Townsend, Simon W.
AU - Ridley, Amanda R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Comparative studies conducted over the past few decades have provided important insights into the capacity for animals to combine vocal segments at either one of two levels: within- or between-calls. There remains, however, a distinct gap in knowledge as to whether animal combinatoriality can extend beyond one level. Investigating this requires a comprehensive analysis of the combinatorial features characterizing a species' vocal system. Here, we used a nonlinear dimensionality reduction analysis and sequential transition analysis to quantitatively describe the non-song combinatorial repertoire of the Western Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis). We found that (i) magpies recombine four distinct acoustic segments to create a larger number of calls, and (ii) the resultant calls are further combined into larger call combinations. Our work demonstrates two levels in the combining of magpie vocal units. These results are incongruous with the notion that a capacity for multi-level combinatoriality is unique to human language, wherein the combining of meaningless sounds and meaningful words interactively occurs across different combinatorial levels. Our study thus provides novel insights into the combinatorial capacities of a non-human species, adding to the growing evidence of analogues of language-specific traits present in the animal kingdom.
AB - Comparative studies conducted over the past few decades have provided important insights into the capacity for animals to combine vocal segments at either one of two levels: within- or between-calls. There remains, however, a distinct gap in knowledge as to whether animal combinatoriality can extend beyond one level. Investigating this requires a comprehensive analysis of the combinatorial features characterizing a species' vocal system. Here, we used a nonlinear dimensionality reduction analysis and sequential transition analysis to quantitatively describe the non-song combinatorial repertoire of the Western Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis). We found that (i) magpies recombine four distinct acoustic segments to create a larger number of calls, and (ii) the resultant calls are further combined into larger call combinations. Our work demonstrates two levels in the combining of magpie vocal units. These results are incongruous with the notion that a capacity for multi-level combinatoriality is unique to human language, wherein the combining of meaningless sounds and meaningful words interactively occurs across different combinatorial levels. Our study thus provides novel insights into the combinatorial capacities of a non-human species, adding to the growing evidence of analogues of language-specific traits present in the animal kingdom.
KW - animal communication
KW - call combinations
KW - multi-level combinatoriality
KW - UMAP
KW - Western Australian magpie
U2 - 10.1098/rsif.2022.0679
DO - 10.1098/rsif.2022.0679
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36722171
AN - SCOPUS:85147186568
VL - 20
JO - Journal of the Royal Society Interface
JF - Journal of the Royal Society Interface
SN - 2042-8898
IS - 199
M1 - 20220679
ER -
ID: 335965335