Why can't Animals Talk? | BBC Earth Explore

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We're BBC Earth Explore and we make videos about the incredible natural world and the animals that live here - exclusively for YouTube. We investigate the conundrums, quirks and beautiful science of our amazing planet, delving into the BBC documentary and natural history vaults and mixing it up with our own stuff to take a brand new look at the animals and wildlife of planet Earth. From animal behaviour in slow motion, educational videos, expedition films and beyond we’ve got you covered. Our planet is mind-blowing. Join us as we explore what it has to offer.

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[erikholgersson]

Alex the parrot's last words before dying unexpectedly were: "You be good, see you tomorrow. I love you."

[RisqueBisquet]

I wish to god I could explain to one of my rats that if he keeps attacking his brothers, he's going to have his balls surgically removed.

[boah]

Plot twist: *Animals are making "why humans talk" videos*

[Master_Therion]

3:09 I'm not impressed by Maddie's impersonation of a dog. But her excellent cow moo, I was like, "holy cow!"

[djp_video]

I was going to say that African Greys are definitely more capable of making a connection between the sounds they are making and their meaning. One of my old roommates had one and there was without certainty correlation between the phrases it would utter and the setting it was in. It had figured out which phrases would get it attention, food, etc., and would regularly say hello and goodbye when people come and go, and refer to people by their name. Certainly not conversation, but most definitely some level of understanding.

[Hewnrewk]

I could watch these videos JUST to rest my eyes on the amazingly beautiful Maddie!

[theultimatereductionist]

Maddie: Animals can't talk.
Disney+ enters the chat.

[b.hagedash]

Animals don't understand what they're saying, my husky doesn't really "ruv" me?

[fkkkkkenig]

The ability to communicate complex ideas and thoughts is one of humanity's biggest advantages in life. Maybe in time other animals of similar intelligence will gain such ability. Dolphins are certainly getting there if not there already.

[shoulders-of-giants]

Animals can't talk?
*Grandma, what are humans?*
Plants?
GODS?

[eddyb]

Are we just not gonna talk about the almost perfect chainsaw imitation?!? Blew me away.

[aaronman]

I only want fluffy ponies to exist. Why can't we engineer an animal to talk with basic human speech?.

[Elrezodesobediente]

Speaking is a great process, that made it possible to become human a top animal. Neanderthal had many similarities with us, but they were unable to speak. If a dog would speak, would he be still a dog or a species different from a dog?

[GaasubaMeskhenet]

So many discussions/lectures about animal vocalizations sound vaguely ableist to mute people... like "no other animal has yet shown that it understands what those sounds really represent." All I could think of was Koko the gorilla who once told her handlers that her tooth hurt and then they found a cavity. And then I thought of dogs. Imagine talking to a person, you say "bring me the apple" and they bring you the apple from a pile of 100 different things and you continue this until they have brought every single item correctly... and then the room of scientists observing go "yeah but there's no evidence that they really understand what those sounds mean."

(Edited: misspelling))

[i.i.iiii.i.i]

Somebody please tell Alex what color he is!

[GandalfTheTsaagan]

I long for the day that we can decypher the vocalizations of several animal species so we can communicate directly

[ECalland]

Great video. It's something I did wonder about but never fully looked into.

[OssieWhite]

It is pretty true that most animals may never be able to speak homo sapien languages.
But, most if not all can communicate with other animals with ease though humans typically don't understand.

[frostfirei]

Broca'sBrain. explains that there is a node in the brain, that when developed allows speech and the understanding of speech. Howeverif that node does not develop, it is impossible to speak or to understand speech

[joshuabalistreri]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think its Wernicke's area not vernickes use area?