Vocalizations are a pervasive feature of nonhuman primate social life, yet we know
surprisingly little about their function. We review studies supporting the hypothesis that many …

Two core questions in the study of speech evolution are whether nonhuman primate signals
should be conceived as referential, and what the role of social cognition is in primate …

Vocalization is an ancient vertebrate trait essential to many forms of communication, ranging
from courtship calls to free verse. Vocalizations may be entirely innate and evoked by sexual …

Vocalizations of human infants undergo dramatic changes across the first year by becoming
increasingly mature and speech-like. Human vocal development is partially dependent on …

Individuals of some animal species have been taught simple versions of human language
despite their natural communication systems failing to rise to the level of a simple language …

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has the potential to greatly improve our ability to monitor
cryptic yet vocal animals. Advances in automated signal detection have increased the scope …

Highlights•We review the meaning of communicative signals in monkeys and apes.•Signals
are adaptive because they convey information, thereby reducing uncertainty.•Meaning …

One of the defining features of language is displaced reference—the capacity to transmit
information about something that is not present or about a past or future event. It is very rare …

Animal vocal communication is often diverse and structured. Yet, the information concealed
in animal vocalizations remains elusive. Several studies have shown that animal calls …

Debates concerning social learning in the behavioral and the developmental cognitive
sciences have largely ignored the literature on social influence in the affective sciences …