• Question: if over a long period of time humans tried to create a mutual language for all animals do you think they could learn it? if no why?

    Asked by to James, Natalie, Shaylon on 27 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: James Bell

      James Bell answered on 27 Jun 2014:

      This is a bit like a question from bubbles7 so have a read of our answers from then as well

      /animalj14-zone/2014/06/19/can-animals-understand-what-we-are-saying/

      Some animals have proved themselves very capable of learning to communicate. Gorillas have been taught extensive vocabulary of sign languages and bonobos (another kind of primate) have in the past ben able to type on a keyboard to communicate.

      However, teaching these animals, even though they are some of the more intelligent animals, takes a very long time. Koko the Gorilla is probably the most famous, she learnt thousands of words but was taught for something like 30 or 40 years. Sign language also requires very manoeuvrable fingers and thumbs and a lot of coordination and most animals can’t do this – so we know sign language is not really an option for non-primates.

      The problem with a universal language is two-fold

      Firstly – different animals communicate in very different ways and something that a snake might do to communicate is probably completely different to a bird – because they have different brains and their bodes can do different things.

      Secondly – language is really a very complicated thing. Only humans have developed language to the point where we can communicate very complicated ideas to people around the world (and it’s worth remembering that it’ still only between humans for the most part). A lot of animals like reptiles fish have brains with much less capacity to learn than higher mammals like primates. They can learn, but very slowly and only very simple things usually. This is still only talking about vertebrates as well (animals with spines). The vast majority of animals have brains even less developed than the primitive, instinct-driven reptiles and some, like jellyfish, insects and starfish don’t even really have brains in the sense that we think of them.

      As great as it would be to be able to communicate with any animal at length, it almost certainly can’t be done I’m afraid

Comments