Do animals understand different languages?

Animals don’t actually learn language at all, they merely learn to associate certain sounds (words) with certain behaviors or rewards. As such, they can learn to recognize words in any language.

Just the ones you teach them.

Milo here: I am fluent in six languages (all of them relating to food) and can get by in four others (relating to being left outside in the cold for too long).

It was great, I perfected my command form in Spanish on my host family’s dog in Spain. ”¡Siéntate!” ”¡No la comas!” ”¡Sal de mi cama!”

Shouldn’t we first define “animal”, “understand” and “language” before we answer this question?

I saw a fascinating article today about how animals react to music if it is written at a pitch and rhythm that will appeal to them. The article argues that music made by humans echoes the first noises we ever heard as a fetus in the womb- the heartbeat and breath of our mother, and the sound of her voice. A species of monkey might have a heart rate that is seven times as fast, so in theory the monkeys should react to music if the beat is seven times faster. Scientists never got much of a reaction from playing music for animals because the music doesn’t appeal to them on that level. So a composer actually analyzed animal sounds and wrote music for them. Article.

are you assuming animals can only learn English? Or are you asking if an animal can learn several different languages at once?

@Violet How do the infants and the monkeys react when the sounds are not language sounds? I would venture to guess both groups could discriminate between a running stream and a small waterfall. Or between a fiddler playing bluegrass, and a fiddler playing Bach.

@pdworkin is that a rhetorical question?

No, I was wondering if you knew the answer.

@pdworkin I think you know I don’t.

I don’t either, but I’m guessing they could. What do you think?

@pdworkin I actually lost the article when I edited my answer. I’ll have to go find it and read it again. Hang on

The only thing I know about this is that some attack dogs have purposely been trained in German and will not respond to English.

But, according to what Syz said, I would assume that they could be re-trained with commands in another language.

@pdworkin I’d guess, it would depend on the intelligence level of the animal. I bet a monkey, raven, dolphin, or other intelligent animal would be able to tell the difference between a waterfall and stream, and Bach and bluegrass.

here is the article again. I deleted it because I did not know the author, and it wasn’t form a credible source
http://forum.peopleforanimalsindia.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=874

Yeah, so it’s hard to tell if what they are discriminating is language, or difference. I talk to my dog all the time, but I’m pretty sure that what she hears is blah-blah-blah-KATIE-blah-blah-OUT-blah-blah-blah-blah-WALK…

@pdworkin I just literally laughed out loud!

OK, well, I see why it’s funny, but I meant it – I mean in terms of this question. I didn’t mean to make a joke.

But this “blah-blah-blah-KATIE-blah-blah-OUT-blah-blah-blah-blah-WALK” was hilarious. Sorry.

I’m smiling, too. She’s right here and this whole thing is cracking me up.

Katie here; What about blah-blah-blah-blah FOOD?

We had a dog who only understood Spanish. She was a street dog from Venezuela. Eventually we taught her a little English, too. However, all she spoke was Dog.

Yeah, Gail has it right. The universal animal language: FOOD

They read minds instead and those translate automagically.

I have recognised that my dog understands the way that I say something…. not necessarily comprehending the word.

This was confirmed to me as follows:

When he has been a good boy and is about to get a treat, I say “Ah would you like? Ah would you like, a tasty treat?” (I know, I’m a total dork) But I say it in a tone and way that I am unable to replicate via text of course but imagine me saying it like an absolute idiot.

Anyway, if I was to simply say “Ah would you like…” he doesn’t recognise it as being the same because it isn’t being said in the way that he knows it. Tone seems to be a much more effective tool than language to a dog IMO.

I believe animals understand a lot more than people give them credit for. I think it’s easier to look down on animals if you believe they don’t understand anything anyway. I have dogs, cats, a pig and a sheep (they live in the yard) and I know for a fact they understand English and French, the languages that are spoken in our home.Some people might think I’m naive, but that is my personal experience and belief. That is also why I don’t eat animals or animal products.