For the scientists eavesdropping on sperm whales, it’s a race to decode their mysterious clicks and whistles in a very alien environment. Sperm whales exhibit patterns similar to human vowels and diphthongs–a connected pair of vowels in a word, such as the “oi” in coin. “This elucidation of sperm whale vowel and diphthongs combined with CETI’s previous findings of a sperm whale phonetic alphabet, now showcases the sperm whale communication system one of the most sophisticated systems seen across the animal kingdom.”A pod of sperm whales swimming and socializing off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean. CREDIT: © Amanda Cotton/Project CETIA pod of sperm whales swimming and socializing off the coast of Dominica in the Caribbean. By uncovering these complex vocal structures, this research marks a crucial step in deciphering the meaning behind sperm whale communication.