Do Animals speak a Language?

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:38 pm

I mean like lets take cats, to us we hear noises which are Meows, now go other cats do they understand what the other cat is saying? Do they 'talk' to each other through meows like we talk to each other through our speech paterns?

That can be expanded to like Dog barks, and bird tweets, and dolphin squeals, and all the animals etc....

do they speak a language they understand to each other that is like words to us?

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:38 pm

it's not a language.. more like signals...

like... MEOW means I'm being attacked.. or... meow.. like begging for food..

crazyman · Post by **crazyman** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:41 pm

yes! I beleive it's a language for sure.well we know that dolphins and whales do for sure,and I do believe that all mammals can communicate intelligently with each other
and us(if you pay attention).

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:42 pm

Originally posted by crazyman
yes! I beleive it's a language for sure.well we know that dolphins and whales do for sure,and I do believe that all mammals can communicate intelligently with each other
and us(if you pay attention).

Yup. Well said.

Banshee · Post by **Banshee** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:44 pm

Yah, when my dogs go out in our backyard and other dogs in our neighborhood start barking, my dogs bark back

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:44 pm

that's interesting, cause cats and other animals don't seem to communicate much

I mean only when like they are fighting or something, usually for food or territory

but you like never just see a couple of cats sittin around talking to each other, or a couple of dogs layin in the grass just having a conversation.....

crazyman · Post by **crazyman** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 6:48 pm

ha ha ,,this thread reminds me of a "Far Side" that I had,

it was all the dogs in the neighborhood barking,but in small captions at each dog was what they were really saying and it was not bark bark bark But" hey you! hey you! hey you!"..

lurker · Post by **lurker** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 7:29 pm

Yes. Havent you seen Homeward Bound?

Psalmist · Post by **Psalmist** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 8:24 pm

Do animals speak a Language?

Yes, French.

(Just Kidding)

The verbalisations are often to communicate mood (Amorous whales to pist off rattlesnakes) Bees use a dance to communicate direction and distance to nectar. Of course, we have all seen chimps and gorillas signing.

david

Andrea · Post by **Andrea** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 9:40 pm

Originally posted by Brent
that's interesting, cause cats and other animals don't seem to communicate much

I mean only when like they are fighting or something, usually for food or territory

but you like never just see a couple of cats sittin around talking to each other, or a couple of dogs layin in the grass just having a conversation.....

I believe that they are able to communicate (through sounds, body language and actions).

I had a cat for 19 years, as the elder cat in the house he took it upon himself to make younger cats behave. As such, he had a certain call that he used toward another cat when he wanted it to stop doing whatever it was doing. They all learned what his signal meant.

Interestingly, I learned to mimic the sound, and he responded to it from me, but the other cats did not...

smaier69 · Post by **smaier69** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 10:07 pm

I believe that they are able to communicate (through sounds, body language and actions).

i think you hit it on the head, Andrea.

true, the higher forms of mammals (whales, dolphins and the like) have been shown to communicate in a verbal fashion (of sorts), but i dont know if its a language. i think the major emphasis is on sound (for the swimmers who lack the appendages and facial expressions most land-dwellers do). sort of how a dog seemingly knows what "no" means. not by the word, but by the tone and intensity with more exposure, the same dog can be taught to pick up a word (or many words) and know what you have shown them it means.

if you get to know a cat or dog very well and pay close attention to their character/personality and their other modes of expression, you can see whats on their mind. true, its nowhere near as complex as our own.... nor as acutely identifiable, but surely identifiable behavior). one kitty here likes to dart into my bedroom and sleep next to my pillow. she used to go to the door and meow when she wanted out. i could sleep through that, though. she soon discovered that if she just walked around on the bad while i was trying to sleep, i she would be let out much faster. i have not seen her meow in front of a the door in a very long time. so i guess she has trained me. just with body language rather than a spoken one.

rickabilities · Post by **rickabilities** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 10:53 pm

rrrrr....rrrrrrrrr...rrr...rrrrrrr...rrrrrrrr...rrrrRicks

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 10:54 pm

Seven lifetimes ago I was a terrapin. I spoke Chinese, but none of my friends ever listened to what I had to say. I was heartbroken ever sice then, but then I watched Dr. Doolittle........

David · Post by **David** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 11:02 pm

Originally posted by TonyT
Seven lifetimes ago I was a terrapin. I spoke Chinese, but none of my friends ever listened to what I had to say. I was heartbroken ever sice then, but then I watched Dr. Doolittle........

Very very Funny!!!!

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Mon Sep 03, 2001 11:12 pm

I would say a form of comunication exists , but its limited kinda like moods and pain . i dont think that a dog is able to say to another dog " do you think it is going to be mainly sunny?" or " my owner is really pissing me off and i am going to poop under his pillow"

its more like just moods> anger, happy, itchy, hot, hungry etc
i think that dolphins and whales got sumin going on ?..