Toward a future where humans can understand animal language

Overview

Our laboratory is the world’s first laboratory specializing in the field of animal linguistics. Our research integrates animal behavior, linguistics, and cognitive science to explore questions such as: (1) what do animal signals (e.g., vocalizations or gestures) mean, (2) how do they function in survival and reproduction, and (3) what cognitive capabilities are necessary for a communication system to evolve? We use a variety of methods, including behavioral observations of wild animals, audio recording and analysis, psychological experiments in the field, and semi-natural experiments under captive conditions. We focus primarily on social animals that regularly use communication in social contexts, such as birds and mammals.