# Will we ever be able to have a conversation with animals? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024 "2012-10-27T07:05:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![susie1017](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@susie1017](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susie1017)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/1 "2012-10-27T07:05:02Z")
Of course it dosen’t have to be that animals must learn our means of communication. Since we are so clever, why don’t we take what we learn of their language to speak to them.Why do some caged birds imitate us?Why are dogs to human so faithful, guide dogs can look after some blind, doesn’t a dog can really understand human language? It certainly isn’t to attract our attention, so perhaps it is simply because they can, or that the more sounds an individual can imitate, the more desireable it is deemed to be as a mate.What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/2 "2012-10-27T07:23:02Z")
Conversation-wise? I doubt it. We seem to communicate in vastly different ways as species. We’re not even sure how complex their communications are that it might even support language on the very complex level of conversation. I certainly don’t see any dogs, or chimps for that matter, seemingly engaged in conversation amongst themselves… Unless they just don’t have much to talk about. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/3 "2012-10-27T10:28:28Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I certainly don’t see any dogs, or chimps for that matter, seemingly engaged in conversation amongst themselves… I’ve had conversations\* with my cat, but I’ve never heard two (or more) cats conversing with each other. \*“Conversations” in the sense that we take turns speaking to one another. Not much meaning gets conveyed—but the same might be said for some human conversation. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/4 "2012-10-27T12:01:26Z")
I’ve seen conversations among animals (horses, cats, dogs, wild birds) but they aren’t on the “what’s the meaning of life?” or “do you think this collar makes me look fat?” level. It’s more about who’s standing in someone else’s space, or wanting to eat right in that spot right now, and whether or the the one challenged will back down or not. If you sit back and watch, it can last a good long time, and it can be very very subtle. It’s often a matter of facial expression (eye squints, ear position, head position, feathers puffed or not) rather than large body movements. I’ve also seen brief comforting moments between horses, when one is worried and the other isn’t. The best was on a trail ride when a younger horse was getting wound up about something, and her older brother turned his head toward her and gave an almost soundless nicker, and then very lightly touched her neck with his muzzle. He then continued to walk on, and she visibly relaxed. My friend and I were just amazed and moved by it. As to a human having a conversation with an animal, I guess it depends on your definition of conversation. Again with horses I’ve definitely had what I call conversations, though it wasn’t of the Star Trek mind meld kind. I’ll make a request that the horse do (or not do) something, and I get an answer back that says quite plainly ‘no, I’d really rather not’ or “wait, what? I don’t get what your asking” or “oh yeah, I can do that!” My reply, (in both human words and signals they can understand) depends on what they’ve just told me. So that is a conversation, of sorts. As to asking “meow meow purrrp meaow mew” (So how’s your day been? Mine kinda sucked") I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/5 "2012-10-27T20:01:20Z")
> [@susie1017](#): > > Why do some caged birds imitate us? Some birds do it because they know it makes us happy or gets them food. > [@](#): > > Why are dogs to human so faithful, Even before thousands of years of selective breeding, dogs were loyal to other dogs because they are pack animals. > [@](#): > > guide dogs can look after some blind, doesn’t a dog can really understand human language? A trained dog understands a handful of words. > [@](#): > > It certainly isn’t to attract our attention Sure it is. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/6 "2012-10-27T20:25:49Z")
I think humans have a long way to go before we’re going to be any great shakes at speaking various forms of “animal” because so much of their communication with each other is based on very subtle body movements (sometimes of parts we don’t even have or have direct control of - we can’t stand our hair on end, or move our ears to indicate our mood or attention) or based on scents. Until we get to the point where we can either mimic or recreate those subtleties, we’re going to be at a profound disadvantage. I imagine that any domesticated animals who put their minds to it can tell a great deal more about the mental or emotional state of “their” humans at any given time than the human could tell about the animal. (Limited of course by the animal’s ability to understand or give a shit about said mental state in the first place.) However, I do think that limited communication happens now regularly between people and their pets/working animals. Expanding that to actual \*conversation \*is probably going to result in our realizing that animals don’t really “think” about much the way we do. I have a personal theory that animals hang out in a mental state much like when we’re “zoning out” on a long or boring drive - just existing in the moment, letting our thoughts drift along, not really paying attention to anything, or worrying about the future or remembering the past. Now try to imagine having a conversation with someone who is stuck in that state - not the most stimulating conversation partner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/7 "2012-10-27T20:48:53Z")
It’s obvious they have ways to communicate between each other, but conversation is something else entirely, by a vastly huge margin. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/8 "2012-10-27T21:37:56Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > A trained dog understands a handful of words. Here’s [one that knows more than 1000 words](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6479QAJuz8). But that’s a long way from conversation. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/9 "2012-10-27T21:52:07Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Here’s [one that knows more than 1000 words](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6479QAJuz8). > > But that’s a long way from conversation. I’d like to watch the video and either rebut it or recant my previous post, but I’m on dial up. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/10 "2012-10-27T22:02:00Z")
I am absolutely convinced Alex the gray parrot could understand and communicate with his scientist owner, Irene Pepperberg (who wrote a book about it, “Alex and Me”). Koko the gorilla? (I know a girl who said she liked a guy, but sometimes talking to him was like talking to a golden retriever, lol! 😛 Being he was enthusiastic, fun-loving, and not exactly a deep thinker.) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/11 "2012-10-27T22:13:39Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I am absolutely convinced Alex the gray parrot could understand and communicate with his scientist owner, Irene Pepperberg (who wrote a book about it, “Alex and Me”). I don’t have as much information on Alex as I’d like. I’m not questioning whether he’s the real deal. I’m just not sure exactly how smart he is. > [@](#): > > Koko the gorilla? We’ve had a few threads devoted to her. IIRC the general consensus was that she was nowhere near as inteligent as her handlers made her out to be. Unca Cecil did a column on her [Are gorillas using sign language really communicating with humans? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2443/are-gorillas-using-sign-language-really-communicating-with-humans) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/12 "2012-10-27T22:34:49Z")
The most highly evolved species next to humans are whales and dolphins. Whales plainly communicate and exhibit behavior that indicates such. Pods of whales have been known to leave off one of their known “songs”, migrate south, return, and pick up exactly where they left off. The low register of their voices is such that at one time (before the advent of powered shipping) they were likely to have been able to communicate over tens of thousands of miles at deep sea levels. Understanding what they’re ‘saying’ is a whole other kettle of fish. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/13 "2012-10-27T22:36:08Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I’ve had conversations\* with my cat, but I’ve never heard two (or more) cats conversing with each other. [ul] [li]A conversation - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3U0udLH974[/li][li]The](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3U0udLH974%5B/li%5D%5Bli%5DThe) translation - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JynBEX\_kg8[/li][/ul]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JynBEX_kg8%5B/li%5D%5B/ul%5D) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/14 "2012-10-27T22:45:34Z")
> [@susie1017](#): > > Since we are so clever, why don’t we take what we learn of their language to speak to them. AFAWK, none has a “language”, as defined by linguists. Certain animals seem to have calls associated with other things, but none has grammar and syntax. We can and do communicate with a large number of animals by learning their method of communication, but none of them can tell what they plan to do tomorrow, or when they think it will rain next. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/15 "2012-10-27T23:22:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The most highly evolved species next to humans are whales and dolphins. What in Cecil’s name is this??! “Highly evolved” is misleading at worst and meaningless at best. It suggests that there is some kind of goal that evolution is working towards and that some species are closer to that goal than others. Evolution has no end point and no goal. Living things reproduce. There is variation among the offspring. Those that are most fit survive and reproduce. For more on evolution page **Darwin’s Finch** ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/16 "2012-10-27T23:59:43Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I’d like to watch the video … It shows a border collie that knows the names of 1000 different plush toys. It will fetch any one when you say its name, apparently with 100% accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/17 "2012-10-28T00:02:51Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > It shows a border collie that knows the names of 1000 different plush toys. It will fetch any one when you say its name, apparently with 100% accuracy. Huh. I can buy that. I hereby recant my previous post. ETA By which I mean my statement about dogs in post #5 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/18 "2012-10-28T00:38:02Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > What in Cecil’s name is this??! > “Highly evolved” is misleading at worst and meaningless at best. It suggests that there is some kind of goal that evolution is working towards and that some species are closer to that goal than others. Evolution has no end point and no goal. Living things reproduce. There is variation among the offspring. Those that are most fit survive and reproduce. > > For more on evolution page **Darwin’s Finch** Ooookay, then. ::darts eyes at exit:: ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/19 "2012-10-28T01:02:57Z")
> [@susie1017](#): > > Of course it dosen’t have to be that animals must learn our means of communication. Since we are so clever, why don’t we take what we learn of their language to speak to them.Why do some caged birds imitate us?Why are dogs to human so faithful, guide dogs can look after some blind, doesn’t a dog can really understand human language? It certainly isn’t to attract our attention, so perhaps it is simply because they can, or that the more sounds an individual can imitate, the more desireable it is deemed to be as a mate.What do you think? Answers range from “no, we never will” to “we can now” depending on the exact definition of “have a conversation.” ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024/20 "2012-10-28T01:27:49Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > It shows a border collie that knows the names of 1000 different plush toys. It will fetch any one when you say its name, apparently with 100% accuracy. I don’t know if it’s the same clip but I’ve seen this dog being given a new toy by a reporter. The owner names the toy and the dog then picks it out from a heap of other toys. It’s very impressive and rather a tribute to the selective breeding of border collies. I won’t say they are all exceptionally intelligent (for dogs) but of the clever dogs I’ve known quite a few were collies. When it comes to more complex communication people like to claim things like their pet “understands every word I say”. Well, obviously they don’t, “understanding” is after all rather a profound concept 🙂 What I would say about some of the cats I’ve had is that they are very good at _interpreting_ what I say. My young cat Maxie (2 1/2) is getting better and better. For example, when I go up to change the bed and find him dozing on it I’ll say things like “you can’t stay there you know I have to mess it all up and sort it out again.” Undoubtedly what I say and the tone I say it in (as well as visual clues like carrying the new bedding into the room ) is pretty consistent. This week for the first time he got straight up and ran out of the room rather than having me roust him (which he resents). If he keeps doing that I’ll know he’s interpreting the cues correctly not that he actually understood what I said. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-be-able-to-have-a-conversation-with-animals/639024.md?page=2)