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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsWould you rather be able to speak every language in the world or be able to speak to animals?

biophile
(1,752 posts)Most arent worth it.
splat
(2,360 posts)There's no contest there.
rampartd
(5,891 posts)or the dogs who push buttons?
koko was becoming fairly philosophical as she aged. i wonder if there are some quotes.
https://www.greenmatters.com/nature/koko-the-gorilla-last-words
"The caregiver showed Koko a skeleton and asked, 'Is this alive or dead?' Koko signed, 'Dead, draped.' 'Draped' means 'covered up.' Then the caregiver asked, 'Where do animals go when they die?' Koko said, 'A comfortable hole.' Then she gave a kiss goodbye," Francine said.
TommieMommy
(3,281 posts)Niagara
(12,500 posts)I do speak to animals, True.
I saw Mufasa in 2016. I let a larger group of people get way ahead of me so that I could see him without others around. Mufasa was roaring very loudly before I reached him. This group left his enclosure went on ahead to visit with the other animals.
When I got up to Mufasa I got at his level and I squatted down. He then laid down. I gave him a bunch of slow blinks. By the time I stood back up, his eyes were closed and he was resting after I gave this handsome guy plenty of slow blinks! I literally put him to sleep just by communicating with my eyes!
He crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2018.
True Dough
(27,810 posts)"lion blinker"? (As opposed to the "dog whisperer?" )
Would you feel safe by yourself walking across the Serengeti with only those eyelashes to protect you?
Niagara
(12,500 posts)I like that!
No, I wouldn't feel safe at all. Now when people post OP's about big cats, I always joke around and say, "Come to Auntie Niagara!" in the responses. But I would never do so in all seriousness because they're pretty much apex predators.
sinkingfeeling
(58,369 posts)Baitball Blogger
(53,001 posts)If I listened to them, I would also learn about their hardships and with my personality, I would have to become their advocate. Since I would be the only one in the world with this ability, it would be too much of an emotional experience to bear. Only if I had the money to provide for them and pay for the campaign to change what the world knows about animals, would I be able to live with the gift of talking to animals.
Polly Hennessey
(9,101 posts)How wonderful to know what they are really thinking. Of course, it might not be what I want to hear. Pretty sure they would tell me to stop 💋 kissing the top of their heads. My cats would say, not now I am trying to sleep 💤 when are you going to feed me and tell the dogs to bugger off. I would never expect a thank you from the cats.
littlemissmartypants
(36,001 posts)I've read all of the Dr. Doolittle stories so I have a head start. I already have an advanced degree that covered linguistics. 😉
True Dough
(27,810 posts)A real page-turner...

littlemissmartypants
(36,001 posts)In one summer vacation with time to spare. I was eight. I think there are a dozen of them.
Publication Order of Doctor Dolittle Books
https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/doctor-dolittle/
https://bookroo.com/books/series/doctor-dolittle
WhiteTara
(31,317 posts)So yeah, every language.
Solly Mack
(97,547 posts)Marthe48
(23,879 posts)Dog, cat, squirrel, and a universal sound that birds understand
Human language not so much
Niagara
(12,500 posts)Marthe48
(23,879 posts)I get a lot out of your posts and our recent email exchanges
Niagara
(12,500 posts)You're so kind.