ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Great ape language

Great apes are animals that are very much like humans, but smarter and bigger. They are also the closest related animals to humans. Great ape language is the study of how great apes like gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans communicate with each other. Scientists study great ape language to understand how their communication is similar to humans, and also to learn more about the evolution of human language. Great ape language usually involves vocalizations (such as grunts, whistles, and hoots) and body language (such as hand gestures and facial expressions). Researchers study these signals to learn more about how great apes communicate with each other. They also look for signs that great apes can understand language, which would mean they can use words to communicate with each other. While we haven't found any evidence that great apes can understand language yet, researchers are still looking for ways to teach them how to communicate.