The Language of Whales

Lexile: 820 | Grade: 5

Passage

Whales may not speak like humans, but they have a complex way of communicating. Scientists have discovered that whales use a variety of sounds to send messages to one another—clicks, whistles, and long, low songs that can travel for miles underwater.

One of the most famous examples is the humpback whale. These whales are known for their haunting songs, which can last up to 30 minutes and follow specific patterns. Male humpbacks often sing to attract mates, but scientists believe these songs may also serve other purposes, like marking territory or keeping social bonds.

What’s fascinating is that these songs change over time. A song that is common one year might sound completely different the next. It’s as if the whales are part of a musical tradition, where each generation adds new parts and drops old ones.

Some researchers have even tried to understand whale sounds as a kind of language. While it’s not the same as human language, whale communication shows signs of structure, meaning, and even regional 'dialects'—just like people from different areas might have different accents.

Studying whale communication isn’t easy. The ocean is vast and deep, and sounds can bounce or fade. But with underwater microphones and tracking tools, scientists are slowly piecing together the secret conversations of these gentle giants. Every discovery brings us closer to understanding how life communicates beyond the world of words.