General Knowledge

Communication Breakdown

Why can�t animals talk like us?

By Khru Sam Bhardwaj of Sam�s Bangkok English Academy, Photograph courtesy of AP

Did You Know : As well as using sound to communicate, dolphins use �echo location,� which means they use sound to �see� their surroundings.

If you�re a fan of Disney movies, you might wonder why it is that animals only talk in movies. They can�t talk to us in real life, however much we�d like them to. Have you ever wondered why this is?

In actual fact, according to our current knowledge, human beings are the only animals on Earth that use language to convey information. But this doesn�t mean that animals don�t communicate � it just means they haven�t developed the brainpower or the vocal cords needed to speak like us.

TALK IS CHEEP

While animals can�t talk, they do interact with each other and with other animals using sound, colour and movement � this is a form of communication just like speaking. Animals �feel� fear, affection, hostility and anger in a similar way to humans, through chemical changes in their bodies that cause them to respond.

Perhaps you�ve seen a cat or a dog attack a group of birds � all the birds start chirping loudly to warn each  other of danger. This is a form of communication. Similarly, when a dog wags its tail, it�s showing that it�s happy and content. On the other hand, when a cat wags its tail, it usually means the cat is annoyed.

Other animals communicate danger to predators through bright colours. Wasps, for example, use yellow and black stripes to warn that they sting.

Discussion

Some scientists believe that it is possible to communicate with intelligent animals, like chimpanzees or dolphins. If we could �speak� with them, what do you think they would say to us?

Vocabulary

convey (v): to make ideas, feelings, etc. known to somebody
vocal cords (n): the thin strips of muscle in the throat that move to produce the voice
cheep (v): (of young birds) to make short high sounds
interact (v): to communicate with somebody, especially while you work, play or spend time with them
affection (n): the feeling of liking or loving somebody/something very much and caring about them
hostility (n): unfriendly or aggressive feelings or behaviour
chirp (v): (of small birds and some insects) to make short  high sounds
wag (v): if a dog wags its tail, or its tail wags, its tail moves from side to side several times
content (adj): in this use, happy and satisfied with what you have
predator (n): an animal that kills and eats other animals