• Question: Would it be possible to make a translator so we can understand what animals are saying?

    Asked by MacyHallam to Heather, Helen, Hugh, Jane, Julian on 12 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Julian Onions

      Julian Onions answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      I think it would be difficult. It’s not even clear animals have a language quite like we see it. Some work has been done with dolphins and chimps to try and teach them language. I think the results are not very conclusive.

    • Photo: Helen Johnson

      Helen Johnson answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      I think it’s unlikely, most animals don’t really communicate ideas the way we do. Instead of talking they just make noises to mean different things like ‘here’s the food’ or ‘follow me’. It seems quite basic.
      Other animals have much more complex languages though, chimps have even been taught to use american sign language which is pretty incredible! I think scientists have experimented in the past, trying to raise chimp babies to use human language, but it didn’t really work.

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