Decoding Whale Language
National Geographic Explorer Dr. David Gruber founded Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) to translate whale “speech.” In the past five years, CETI has become the most interdisciplinary interspecies communication initiative in history.
The leading scientists are experts across disciplines including linguistics, robotics and artificial intelligence. Dr. Gruber, Explorers Dr. Shane Gero and Dr. Robert Wood, and their team have made significant scientific progress recording, analyzing and translating what sperm whales are saying – major breakthroughs making it possible to bridge our worlds. These findings are fostering deeper awe and appreciation of whales and other marine life, while opening new avenues for ocean conservation.
“Little by little, the sperm whales are divulging their secrets of how they're communicating to us.”
Invitation to Listen
Begin your journey by watching the award-winning "Listen to the Whales" campaign video.
While studying sperm whales near the coast of Dominica, Project CETI has uncovered the building blocks of whale speech, including a “sperm whale phonetic alphabet” and their use of vowels. Researchers are now assembling a one-of-a-kind data set of whale sounds and behaviors to decipher their complex language — and building a strong case for protecting these mysterious creatures.
Dive deeper by taking part in CETI’s Listen to the Whales — a movement for a new era that reveals a hidden world of sound where every click brings us closer to understanding these remarkable beings. Begin your journey by watching the “Listen to the Whales” campaign video, created by the National Geographic Society’s Impact Story Lab.
Help Translate Whale Speech
By donating to the National Geographic Society, your generous contribution will directly support Project CETI, led by Explorer David Gruber and his team who are helping to solve the planet’s mysteries and preserving our world for future generations.
