Do Chimpanzees Communicate?

Chimpanzees have been discovered to be very similar to humans in many ways – some statistics state a similarity as high as 95-99%. Jane Goodall’s research on the communication of chimpanzees has come to show that chimpanzees use verbal and non-verbal communication. Verbal calls for alarm, mating, and greetings can be heard for over a mile.  Chimps also have distinctive calls when in fear or confusion. Young chimps have been recorded making ‘laughing’ sounds.
There are also a great many non-verbal communications that have been recorded. Most obviously, the dominant versus submissive postures such as crouching. Chimpanzees use a form of social grooming to emphasize friendships. Humans have very similar verbal and non-verbal communication; no matter the culture there are universal calls that are instinctive. These include laughter and crying. While chimpanzees do not have a phonetic vocabulary like humans, it is obvious through watching any interaction between chimpanzees a clear and universal system of communication exists in the species.