• Question: hello, can animals actually understand our language?

    Asked by autumn98 to Carol, Ellie, John, Philip, Rebecca on 2 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Carol White

      Carol White answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Dophins can! That’s because they can recognise different pitches and tones in their own communication, so it’s not that much harder to recognise words in human communication!

      Cool eh… 🙂

    • Photo: Rebecca Lacey

      Rebecca Lacey answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      Apparently dogs, parrots and apes can understand some words.

      Collies are particularly intelligent – did you know that they can understand well over 100 commands

      I personally think it is more to do with the tone of voice that you use when talking to an animal that they learn and know to mean certain things.

    • Photo: John Welford

      John Welford answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      It seems that lots of animals can understand our language (to a certain extent) or foreign languages if they are exposed to them enough.

      It also appears that dogs can read body language and facial expressions, baboons can recognise written words and gorillas can understand (and possibly even reply) in sign language.

      It’s all pretty limited though, you’re probably best sticking with human friends if you want a proper conversation!

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