Primates Change Their 'Accent' To Avoid Conflict

New research has discovered that monkeys will use the "accent" of another species when they enter its territory to help them better understand one another and potentially avoid conflict. Phys.Org reports: Published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, the study is the first to show asymmetric call convergence in primates, meaning that one species chooses to adopt another species' call patterns to communicate. The study, co-authored by Dr. Jacob Dunn of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), investigated the behavior of 15 groups of pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) and red-handed tamarins (Saguinus midas) in the Brazilian Amazon.

The researchers found that when groups of red-handed tamarins entered territory shared with pied tamarins, the red-handed tamarins adopted the long calls used by the pied tamarins. Red-handed tamarins have greater vocal flexibility and use calls more often than pied tamarins, and the scientists believe they might alter their calls to avoid territorial disputes over resources. "We found that only the red-handed tamarins change their calls to those of the pied tamarins, and this only happens in places where they occur together," [said lead author Tainara Sobroza, of the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia.] "Why their calls converge in this way is not certain, but it is possibly to help with identification when defending territory or competing over resources."

Interesting...

[Mister Transistor]

Natural code switching?

It keeps one from getting one's ass kicked in nature too, perhaps?

Re:

[KingBenny]

more like "Yo, sup? Je moeder , gangster !" ... not standing out by adopting the illusionary identity provided by the group/subculture while keeping the idea that YOU wear that iShoe as a statement ... its primal ... like fear of the dark and huddling in a group so only the ones at the outside get eaten by the bear in the cave. But it doesnt show like that in iSociety

Re:

[Megane]

"Yo, sup? Je moeder , gangster !"

Is this what Canadians say in Quebec when they aren't sure which language they need to blend in with a rough crowd?

Re:

[quenda]

Natural code switching?

How is it that people are just discovering this idea?
Everyone does it naturally. Starting as children we speak different languages with our peers, in class, and at home with parents.
As young adults we learn about social class, and unconsciously adapt our voice and language.
I see on Netflix some black Americans who imagine they are the only people to do this? Ridiculous!

adopt another species' call

[alxc]

We of course call it cultural appropriation.

Re:

[drinkypoo]

"Monkeys do it" is not a great defense

We should be smarter than monkeys

Re:

[cascadingstylesheet]

"Monkeys do it" is not a great defense

We should be smarter than monkeys

Language, accents, expressions have always been borrowed, merged, etc. Apparently even by monkeys, lol.

How the heck do you think languages grow and change?

The "woke" effort to declare that process anathema is doomed to failure. (Not that it won't irritate and cause pain along the way, of course.)

Re:

[h33t l4x0r]

Lately I find that referring to my black colleagues as "homies" has a positive effect. I'm getting more high-fives than I can handle.

Black

[Latent Heat]

is capitalized, you insensitive clod!

It's called 'spying'

[nospam007]

..when you try not to alert the local population to the fact that you are a stranger, up for some monkey-business.

Re:

[nospam007]

"up for some monkey-business."

Sorry, ape-business.
Oooook!

Re:

[Trying2Understand]

Chimp, when entering their territory: "Sorry, I don't speak tamarind".

Re: It's called 'spying'

[e3m4n]

After reading the full article it appears red-handed tamirins are evolutionary superior to the pied tamarins as evident by the population dominance and larger vocal range. Evolving the ability to fool pied tamarins in order to steal their territorial resources further displays how the pied tamarins will either be forced to evolve or go extinct.

Ape with Park Ridge, IL accent

[Latent Heat]

is so cute lapsing into a fake southern-state accent at a political rally.

Re: Monkey != Primate

[e3m4n]

Did you click the article? Looks like a pure copy/paste job so beauHd Aparently did not make interpretations. The article repeats the assertion multiple times also.

Re:

[noodler]

Then why would anyone want to read that article?

Re: Monkey != Primate

[e3m4n]

The one takeaway I got was that the red handed were evolutionary superior and was evident by their regional dominance and adaptability to deceive. So the pie will likely go extinct losing out to stolen natural resources.

Re:

[znrt]

the article uses both "monkey" and "primate" somewhat freely and never makes any assertion about them being the same thing, not even implied. i assume the reader is very much expected to know that they are different things: it is a scientific paper after all, not a troll like the one you are just trying to argue with ...

Re: Monkey != Primate

[e3m4n]

I looked it up. A Monkey is a primate apparently. Its not an Ape, but it is a primate. Lemurs, monkeys, and Apes are all primates.

Re:

[znrt]

good stuff.

Re: Monkey != Primate

[e3m4n]

https://www.britannica.com/ani... [britannica.com]

Re:

[Entrope]

Monkeys are not only primates [wikipedia.org], they are simians. But if really need to "other" these monkeys, they are platyrrhines rather than catarrhines like humans are.

Re:

[noodler]

Hmm,. I think i got confused with the term 'ape'.
Sooowyyy! :)

And today..

[ClueHammer]

It is consider culturaly ffensive... "damned if you do and damned if you don't"

Humans too

[tomhath]

Remember when Hillary would effect a black accent when she spoke to black crowds? And don't forget Biden's "put y'all back in chains" comment. What a couple of buffoons.

Re:

[h33t l4x0r]

C'mon, man.

Re:

[Patent Lover]

And Trump's there's single African American supporter! https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

"Befor entering the village,tell me foreign monkey

[Dirk Becher]

how many sexes are there?"

Pronouns

[Random361]

I wonder if the monkeys ask each other what their pronouns are before initiating conversation.

Hmm...

[groobly]

Does not seem to affect primates in the US.

Oh no!

[cascadingstylesheet]

Primate cultural appropriation [thehill.com]!

Unconsciously for me

[Lije Baley]

I've noticed this happening to me all of my life. I tend to take on the accents and manner of speaking of people I'm around. I was raised by an engineer turned farmer in a "college town" where professors mixed with cattle ranchers (who spoke like Texans) and seemed to adapt to whichever I was in conversation with. Also, my father-in-law's thick German accent was very contagious. And as a child, one of my elementary school teachers noted (probably annoyed) that I had a "talent" for mimicking sounds of t