Would you say that animals can talk?

Question

An argument between two of my friends over weather animals can talk made me do this!.. One of them argues that because they do not speak like us they can not talk, while the other said it was jus lik s different language but the ARE talking!???? Which is it?

Answer 1

Animals communicate, and they also talk.
Communication is defined as the transmission of ideas. Talking is defined as the verbal transmission of ideas.
A bonobo can tell other bonobos not just 'there's danger' but what the specific danger is; they use different words/noises for different animals. Their word for 'snake' is different from their word for 'leopard'.
You're right, but your friends will never accept it! People who see 'dumb animals' can't easily be persuaded to change their minds, so don't worry about it.

The difference is in our minds; we are able to tell about the past and the future, and imaginary stuff. Animals live in the here and now.

Answer 2

Well they have complex vocalization, but nothing in the league of what we have. Most animals have a type of basic language, like for birds a certain sound will be danger, another a mating call. That can be considered talking, because it's verbal communication.

Dolphins are appearantly very chatty. I think a show I saw yesterday said they're the chattiest creatures we know.

Their language is also variant based on location. A monkey from one zoo may have a vocalization for food or something, yet if the sound is played to a monkey in a far off zoo it may not understand it at all. Much like I speak English and Portuguese, but cannot understand Mandarin.

So yes, the animal kingdom has very basic verbal communication, which can be considered talking.

Answer 3

Yes animals do talk. I would classify it as a Primitive language and it is easy for a person to learn. Some is noise they make and some is body language.
I can talk to my Birds, Horses, Dog, Cats and any animal I come into contact with. I laugh and say it a Doctor Doolittle thing.
Lui below made an interesting point about people language I wanted to add to. My woman speaks Polish and as a result her cat responds to Polish. If I were to speak in English the cat will look at me as if I wierd. :-D So, not only do animals communicate in their language they also respond to the native language of their owner.

Answer 4

Your friend has had their mind addled by too many children's animated films. Animals do not hold conversations with each other in some secret, private, near-telepathic language like in the movies. Yes, they do communicate verbally in a limited way, generally through a set of fixed, instinctive calls and responses which convey a minimal amount of critical information ("Predator comin'!" "OK, I hide now!"), but that cannot be called talking in any full, meaningful sense. Animals do not, generally, have the capability for abstract thought and the creation of context which are neccessary for true, open-ended communication.

Answer 5

Animals communicate through noises and body language, but they do not have complicated conversations like humans (someone's been watching one too many animal movies).

However, here are some interesting points:

Some species of parrots in the wild have been found to 'name' members of their family. They have a certain noise they make to their partner and only their partner, and a different noise for each of their children which they use when they want that child's attention.

Pet parrots can be taught human words and use them appropriately (e.g. ask for an apple, ask for water, ask for a scratch, etc). There have been cases where parrots with a huge 'vocabularies' make up their own phrases to describe things. For example, someone's pet African Grey Parrot who knew over 300 words, put the words 'pretty' 'smelling' 'medicine' together to describe his owner's aromatherapy.

Also, according to Feb 2007 National Geographic magazine, for the first time "scientists believe they have evidence of a nonhuman mammal combining signals to create entirely new meanings. Male putty-nosed monkeys in Nigeria have been observed stringing together calls of 'pyow' and 'hack'."
'Pyow' means a leopard or other predator is lurking nearby. 'Hack' means an airborne predator, such as an eagle, is close.
They combine the calls to create a simple sentence. 'Pyow pyow hack hack hack' means, "Let's leave this place and go elsewhere."

Answer 6

I think that they talk in their own language using body language most importantly, as well as vocal sounds. I know that they certainly understand a whole lot more than we give them credit for, about the way that we're feeling. Animals are good at picking up on that !

Answer 7

I think that they can talk its just as another language to us and just as we do with other languages we pick up words and know what they mean so does a dog they learn words like what ball, walk, outside mean and we learn what there barks mean over time we start to understand a little oin what they mean!

Answer 8

I do have confidence that all and sundry animals can communicate with human beings in the event that they so want to. not interior the experience that they communicate greater by using their eyes and physique language. I even have stored cats all my existence and that i truthfully think of i'm able to comprehend each of them in case you comprehend a thank you to translate their tail swishes and blinks and so on plenty greater occurring than human beings supply them credit for. have you ever incredibly watched a cat strolling in the direction of you tail interior the air with a kink interior the magnificent of it hes asserting hi thrilled to work out you. Tail flickering from area to area he's attempting to make his ideas up in many situations you will see this whilst they're on the door or window and that they might't make certain no rely if to bypass outdoors and danger getting their paws moist!! tail flicking will supply up whilst they have desperate i might desire to bypass on and on yet i don't want to be a cat bore!!!!! ok one greater you may desire to of considered this one whilst your cat sits dealing with you slowly last and establishing his eyes ok i comprehend its blinking yet that's greater of a gaze blink he's telling you i'm completely happy and content textile with you and existence in generall on the 2nd!! as for canine particular they may additionally communicate with you ask any puppy proprietor. I actually have a golden retriever and there approximately an hour or so in the past I walked into the kitchen to locate my canine finding very sheepish I in simple terms reported what have you ever performed now?? yep my enormous container of lindt candies have been pulled off the counter and lay in an empty heap on the floor which proves she knew i grew to become into going to make certain she had performed somthing incorrect and particular she went to the returned door understanding she grew to become into going out!!! perhaps not particularly as clever because of fact the cat.

Answer 9

They communicate, definitely. With a growl, a bark, bared teeth, wagging tail, lolling tongue, tail between legs, stiff legs, play-bowing, rolling over, licking and wriggling, hackles up, sniffing butts, hiking legs - all are means of communication.
Talk, no.

Answer 10

No, they are not talking, but they are communicating. A dog barking at the door tells you he wants to go out but he is not asking a request, he is verbalizing a desire.