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Would you rather be able to speak every language in the world or be able to speak to animals? (Original Post) True Dough Yesterday OP
Animals! Duh....who wants to talk to people? biophile Yesterday #1
To communicate with another species would be a quantum leap! splat Yesterday #2
what do you think of koko the signing gorilla? rampartd Yesterday #3
Would love to communicate with animals TommieMommy Yesterday #4
Just so you know Niagara Yesterday #5
Oh, so that makes you the True Dough Yesterday #9
Oh, the "lion blinker" Niagara Yesterday #16
I want to be Dr. Doolittle and talk with the animals. sinkingfeeling Yesterday #6
Truly, I would not want to be able to talk to animals unless I had as much money as Elon Musk. Baitball Blogger Yesterday #7
Easy. I would rather speak with my dogs than most humans. Polly Hennessey Yesterday #8
Definitely animals. littlemissmartypants Yesterday #10
Always the studious researcher, LMSP! True Dough Yesterday #11
True, I read every single book that the library had that was part of that series. littlemissmartypants Yesterday #12
If I spoke every language, it would include animal speak. WhiteTara Yesterday #13
I would love to speak the languages of all animals. Solly Mack Yesterday #14
I already speak a selection of species Marthe48 Yesterday #15
I only speak Gibberish, Marthe Niagara Yesterday #17
Not gibberish at all Marthe48 Yesterday #18
Thank you, Marthe Niagara Yesterday #19

rampartd

(5,891 posts)
3. what do you think of koko the signing gorilla?
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 08:09 AM
Yesterday

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.

Niagara

(12,500 posts)
5. Just so you know
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 09:19 AM
Yesterday

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)
9. Oh, so that makes you the
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 10:09 AM
Yesterday

"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)
16. Oh, the "lion blinker"
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:02 PM
Yesterday

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.



Baitball Blogger

(53,001 posts)
7. Truly, I would not want to be able to talk to animals unless I had as much money as Elon Musk.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 09:37 AM
Yesterday

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)
8. Easy. I would rather speak with my dogs than most humans.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 09:51 AM
Yesterday

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)
10. Definitely animals.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 10:09 AM
Yesterday

I've read all of the Dr. Doolittle stories so I have a head start. I already have an advanced degree that covered linguistics. 😉

littlemissmartypants

(36,001 posts)
12. True, I read every single book that the library had that was part of that series.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 10:57 AM
Yesterday

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

Marthe48

(23,879 posts)
15. I already speak a selection of species
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 01:30 PM
Yesterday

Dog, cat, squirrel, and a universal sound that birds understand

Human language not so much


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