The ability to communicate through language—be it spoken, gestured, or written—is often held up as 'proof' that humans sit atop the intellectual summit of animal evolution. But as an increasing amount of research is conducted in the area of animal communication, we find that our prized methods of conveying information to one another are far from novel.

The stories that follow all boast news of an animal that has mastered some degree of language use and understanding:

• Starlings' Songs Shed Light on Language
• Dolphins Communicate Using Names
• Primate Gestures Offer Insights into Language Development
• Animal World's Communication Kings (BBC News)
• Monkeys 'Grasp Basic Grammar' (BBC News)