11.07.2020 – Language student

Social life is extremely important for all cetaceans and is set on theatrical display during sightings with the curious Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). These seasonal visitors usually arrive in large groups during the summer months and their fearless, inquisitive nature has given behavioural scientists working on the field the chance to get a proper glimpse into the social lives of these cetaceans in their natural habitat.

Biologist Denise Herzing is especially interested in one of the most fundamental parts within the social life of dolphins; their language. Most of what we know about dolphin language comes from bioacoustics experiments performed with Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in captivity, which gave scientists a basic idea of how the animals communicate but, unfortunately, did this at the expense of the well-being of the test subjects. Herzing has the luxury of encountering resident groups of spotted dolphins in the Bahamas and has spent over 30 years recording their behaviour and communication. Scientists working within Herzing’s Wild Dolphin Project have even succeeded in achieving two-way communication with the dolphins, with the animals mimicking whistles produced by devices worn by the biologists underwater to request a certain playful activity or even ask for an encounter with specific people.

While this is already a fabulous leap forward for behavioural scientists studying cetaceans, we still have a long way to go. Learning different human languages can already be a struggle for us! I am currently in the process of learning Portuguese and revising the French I learnt at school. Today I was lucky to enjoy the company of the spotted with a group of lovely guests that spoke both languages today, which helped me improve both my speech and vocabulary.

Lesson of the day: whether you’re trying to learn another human language or attempting to understand the language of dolphins, the best thing you can do is expose yourself to it!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins