How would your cow say hello?

Question

Phonetics experts have backed up dairy farmers' claims that cows moo with regional accents.

Dairy farmers in Somerset noticed a local twang to the sounds made by their animals, reports the Guardian.

John Wells, Professor of Phonetics at the University of London, said: "This phenomena is well attested in birds. You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country.

"This could also be true of cows. In small populations such as herds you would encounter identifiable dialectical variations which are most affected by the immediate peer group."

The phenomenon was noticed by members of the West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers group, who put it down to the close bond between farmer and cow.

The group has also noted similar accent shifts in Midlands, Essex, Norfolk and Lancashire moos.

Farmer Lloyd Green of Glastonbury said: "I spend a lot of time with my ones and they definitely moo with a Somerset drawl."

MINE WOULD SAY "BOUT YOU"

Answer 1

BAAAA MY COW IS LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Answer 2

My cow would speak the Queens perfectly and would have etiquette levels far superior to any of those from elsewhere in nature. Most probably my cow would invite you to her favorite patch of grass where she would offer you a cup of tea and some cucumber sandwhiches. After pursuing a civilised and well balanced conversation about arts and literature, she would almost certainly offer to play a song for you on her piano. Having satisfied your needs as a guest she would then offer to be the perfect host by driving you home in her Aston Martin, as she may think that your mother might be worried as to your whereabouts on grounds that it is not common to be invited to tea with a cow and therefore where unable to phone her to let her know where you were.

Answer 3

I guess I don't talk to the cows here in Iowa often enough. I never noticed this. I guess you do learn something new everyday. Thank you for sharing this information. I will definetely be asking the farmers around here about that. They should get a kick out of it. I find this very interesting, thanks again.

Answer 4

I saw that on the news this morning. Hate to tell you this, but the cows and calves I heard, that were from Ireland, sound exactly like ones in Kansas. I think the "accent" is all in their head!

Answer 5

wow thats... really funny and very interesting, thanks for sharing.
umm maybe they dont have accents as such, i mean if you got three people from all over the world (say china russia and australia) and asked them to moo (not say the word but make the sound) record it, and play it back to someone who doesent know whos who, apart from pitch variability do you think you could tell the difference? i dont know maybe you could... someone should try it.

Answer 6

A sheep might say "Hello Dolly" but that's not 'parton' the answer to the question.

If it were Cowes week then "Hello sailor"

I give up - it would probably turn the 'udder' cheek!

Answer 7

I haven't got a cow, but if I did I am sure it would say MOO but that might, of course, might not mean hello in cow language.

Answer 8

Seems to me that its the people who talk like the animals

Answer 9

moooooooooooooning. fookin' grass for brekkie again. I had it for tea last night. Can't I have pop tarts?

Answer 10

our cows in kentucky say maooooo.I am serious ,my fiancee and I wake up each morning and here all the cows,and we crack up.We decided it wasn't a normal mooooo but a southern maoooooo.i am being serious and you are rightabout cows having diffferent accentsin different parts of the USA.Your question made me laugh, thanks!!