Dwarf mongooses may combine units in order to create new meanings

Dwarf mongooses seem to produce a complex call that may be a combination of distinct call units, reveals a study published by researchers from the University of Zurich in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Coming from fields that have traditionally been far apart (Biology and Linguistics), the authors have combined their expertise in a novel linguistically-grounded method that could bring a new understanding to the way we approach animal communication. It is the first attempt at analyzing a non-human animal call in such a way and has been made possible by a unique transdisciplinary approach.