Prairie Dogs Have Complex Language

[Spade]

For example: "A human wearing a yellow shirt and carrying a gun is approaching our colony."
Learning animal language from prairie dogs | The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti | CBC Radio
Who knew? Heavens, they must have souls.
Anyone talk to their cat recently?

 

[Zipperfish]

"Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! Alan! "

The "Alan Alan Alan" Marmot on the BBC! - YouTube

 

[Spade]

Alan must be deaf!

 

[karrie]

Anyone talk to their cat recently?

Well, my cat passed away about a year ago, BUT...

We went away for two weeks to Paris, and he was alone in the house the whole time (save visits by the house sitter). When we came home, he'd taken up a habit of YELLING 'hello?' if he was alone in a room.

For the record, I don't think it necessarily serves society well to decode animals' 'speech'. I think one of the more powerful things pets and even livestock and wild animals teach humans, is the capacity to communicate without speech. While it may help to scientifically prove what humans say animals they are familiar with are saying (for example, my dog used to get annoyed with us if we stayed up too late, and would berate us before stomping off to bed alone), it's sad to think of people relying on it in any way shape or form.

 

[Spade]

Being aware of animal 'language" may make us more human(e).

Talking Funny Cat Says 'No No' - YouTube

 

[petros]

I swear the older ground rats bully the young ground rats into running out in front of cars. Now there is a conversation i'd love to be in on.

 

[Cliffy]

For example: "A human wearing a yellow shirt and carrying a gun is approaching our colony."
Learning animal language from prairie dogs | The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti | CBC Radio
Who knew? Heavens, they must have souls.
Anyone talk to their cat recently?

I've known that most of my life. I have spent time listening to and talking to a variety of wild animals and although I may not have known exactly what they were say, not having this man's access to sophisticated equipment, I did hear a variety of sounds and inflections. By modifying how I mimicked their vocalizations, could get them to react to me in predictable ways.

 

[petros]

If I could talk to the animals, just imagine it,
Chattin' with a chimp in chimpanzee,
Imagine talking to a tiger, chatting with a cheetah,
What a neat achievement it would be!

If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages,
Maybe Take an animal degree,
I'd study elephant and eagle, buffalo and beagle,
Alligator, guinea pig, and flea!

I would converse in polar bear and python,
And I would curse in fluent kangaroo,
If people ask me "can you speak rhinoceros?"
I'd say "of courserous! Can't you?"

If I conferred with our furry friends, man to animal,
Think of the amazing repartee
If I could walk with the animals, talk with the animals,
Grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals,
And they could squeak and skwawk and speak and talk to us!

If I consult with the quadrupeds
Think what fun we’d have,
asking for the crocodiles for tea!
Or maybe lunch with three lions, walruses and sea lions
What a lovely place the world would be!

If I spoke slang to orangutans
The advantages any fool on earth could plainly see!
Discussing Eastern art and dramas
With intellectual llamas
That’s a big step forward you’ll agree!

I’d learn to speak in antelope and turtle
And my Pekinese would be extremely good
If I were asked to sing in hippopotamus
I’d say “whynotamous?” and I would!

If I could parlay with pachyderms
It’s a fairy tale worthy of Hans Anderson and Grimm
A man who walks with the animals and talks with the animals
Grunts and squeaks and squawks with the animals
and they could talk to *me*!


I’d study every *living* creature’s language
So I could speak to all of them on site
If friends said “can he talk in crab or pelican?”
You’d say “*like hell he can” and you'll be right!

And if you just stop to think of it
there's no doubt of it
I would win a place in history
If I could walk with the animals
Talk with the animals
Grunt no word here squeak and squawk with the animals
And they could squeak and squawk and speak and talk to me!

 

[Spade]

I am sure you have listened to a pair of geese vocalizing position, direction, and intent as they careen against the wind and land perfectly synchronized on the surface of pond and slough.

 

[petros]

I am sure you have listened to a pair of geese vocalizing position, direction, and intent as they careen against the wind and land perfectly synchronized on the surface of pond and slough.

When you're really hungry a chickadee sounds like it's saying Cheeeeeeeeese burger. Little feathered A-holes.

 

[Mowich]

Anyone talk to their cat recently?

Every day, Spade...........she has some very interesting things to tell me too. ;-)

Well, my cat passed away about a year ago, BUT...

We went away for two weeks to Paris, and he was alone in the house the whole time (save visits by the house sitter). When we came home, he'd taken up a habit of YELLING 'hello?' if he was alone in a room.

For the record, I don't think it necessarily serves society well to decode animals' 'speech'. I think one of the more powerful things pets and even livestock and wild animals teach humans, is the capacity to communicate without speech. While it may help to scientifically prove what humans say animals they are familiar with are saying (for example, my dog used to get annoyed with us if we stayed up too late, and would berate us before stomping off to bed alone), it's sad to think of people relying on it in any way shape or form.

I do a lot of house-sitting for folks in this area, Karrie and my little Miri has to stay home while I am gone. She never fails to berate me when I do get back......meeting me a the door with yowls and meows then dogging my footsteps for the next few days and taking every opportunity to jump on my lap when I sit down..........just her way of saying she loves me. :smile:

My doggies don't get annoyed so much as pacing back and forth between the bedroom and the living room to let me know that habits are hard to break and once the time comes round for bed.........they, if not me, are ready to snooze. The reverse happens in the morning when they wake me with licks and nudges to let me know it is time to rise and shine...........on the very odd day that I get to actually sleep in, they are not amused. :lol:

I've known that most of my life. I have spent time listening to and talking to a variety of wild animals and although I may not have known exactly what they were say, not having this man's access to sophisticated equipment, I did hear a variety of sounds and inflections. By modifying how I mimicked their vocalizations, could get them to react to me in predictable ways.

One of the great things about living close to nature is the ability to observe wild animals and how they interact with each other. One can learn so much about them with patience and a watchful eye. I have had deer, cougar, wolf, moose, coyote and foxes roam through my fields - some of them bed down for the night. Hard to get anything done when I am captivated by these wild creatures and their daily dramas unfolding before my eyes. What a treat.

 

[Spade]

Unbelievable Singing Parrot - YouTube