3 ms·

There has been a LOT of research on this. A popsci book I've read on the topic is Adam's Tongue. It details the features that separate what's called Animal Comm

There has been a LOT of research on this. A popsci book I've read on the topic is Adam's Tongue. It details the features that separate what's called Animal Communication Systems from human language. https://www.amazon.com/Adams-Tongue-Humans-Made-Language-ebook/dp/B002LATV1Q https://www.amazon.com/Adams-Tongue-Humans-Made-Language-ebo... Obviously pets are quite capable of making their wishes known to us, especially if we facilitate it. It's unclear whether they're actually achieving language. I'm tempted to think they are, especially when I see dogs using push buttons to talk to us on Instagram. But I can't be totally sure. And even if they were, it would be language we taught them. Not independently developed in the wild.

com2kid 2y ago
I had a dog that you could ask to do complex tasks and he'd happily go about and do it. "Go around the corner and get your toy out of the laundry basket". He'd go around the corner and get his toy out of the laundry basket. You could also ask him to get dressed (he'd get his rain coat and do his best to put it on) and you could ask him to get other dogs ready to go (he'd grab their leashes and drape the leash around the other dog's necks). > Not independently developed in the wild. I'm pretty sure the crows who live next to my house have a complex language. Different squawks for different circumstances. I can tell when one is addressing me vs when the male is calling to his partner. > And even if they were, it would be language we taught them. Humans smarted their way into a surplus of food, which allowed us to do lots of other cool things like have time for art, language, and spending years and years raising our young. That doesn't mean we are inherently superior, it just means an excess of food allows plenty of time to do non-food related things.
- vinceguidry 2y ago
  It's been awhile since I read the book, but I do seem to remember them discussing crows specifically.

com2kid 2y ago

I had a dog that you could ask to do complex tasks and he'd happily go about and do it. "Go around the corner and get your toy out of the laundry basket". He'd go around the corner and get his toy out of the laundry basket. You could also ask him to get dressed (he'd get his rain coat and do his best to put it on) and you could ask him to get other dogs ready to go (he'd grab their leashes and drape the leash around the other dog's necks). > Not independently developed in the wild. I'm pretty sure the crows who live next to my house have a complex language. Different squawks for different circumstances. I can tell when one is addressing me vs when the male is calling to his partner. > And even if they were, it would be language we taught them. Humans smarted their way into a surplus of food, which allowed us to do lots of other cool things like have time for art, language, and spending years and years raising our young. That doesn't mean we are inherently superior, it just means an excess of food allows plenty of time to do non-food related things.

vinceguidry 2y ago
It's been awhile since I read the book, but I do seem to remember them discussing crows specifically.