Dolphin Research Is Examining The Possibility of Dolphin Talking

We already know they can whistle one another's names underwater from hundreds of yards away. Now the question researchers are trying to answer is: Can a pod of about 150 dolphins in Sarasota Bay actually talk to one another?

Dolphin Research professor Laela Sayigh, of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, said her team will be back in the area next month to continue a three-year study of those bottlenose dolphins.

To prove the dolphins recognized their names, the group played dolphin whistles through underwater speakers.

They used natural recordings of signal whistles from other familiar dolphins to measure the responses.

And to ensure the dolphins were not just responding to a known voice, they used computer-generated signals, similar to an automated voice. In both instances, the dolphins turned around as if to ask, "Are you talking to me?"

" We measured the number of head turns," Sayigh said. "They would turn interested as if to say, 'What is she doing over there, or what does she want?' They repeatedly turned around even several minutes afterwards."

Sayigh said their recent study is a small piece in understanding how dolphins talk with one another and what
it means.

This round of experiments may be a little more difficult. Sayigh said the team will spend about two weeks studying if the dolphins respond to signals besides their names.

They plan to take random recorded signals and monitor the dolphins' reactions. Sayigh said the dolphin research
could give scientists clues if dolphins relay messages of stress, unhappiness or have conversations. But that type of information could require several years of dolphin research.