A Parrot That Can Speak 1,000 Words
By suedarr
@suedarr (2382)
Canada
January 18, 2007 8:29am CST
Parrot's oratory stuns scientists. The finding of a parrot which knows nearly 1,000 words is causing scientists to look again at theories of animals' communication powers.
Full article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/3430481.stm
I find this quite fascinating! Is the parrot just mimicing, or does it indeed understand the meaning of all these words?
What does this say about the debate over animal consciousness?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@ilunice (946)
• Netherlands
20 Jan 07
I think there is more to the oratory capability of parrot than is know to the scientist. In the olden days in Africa, men tha ran poligamous family usually keep parrot as pet. They allow this bird a free range. The I dea was that this bird will always report every incidence in the house to the head of the family. That then is a pure suggestion that it is not just mimicing but a powerful ability to understand and make sense out of situations.
@kritipen (4082)
• United States
19 Jan 07
I have seen pet parrots speak a couple of words . Probably to a maximum of 20 words. But 1000 words, i am simply amazed at it. And who knows it might be undersanding them, because it is very difficult to remember so many words without undersanding them.
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
18 Jan 07
Its a good thing that they are looking into it more. I have parrots and the more you teach them and the more you work with them , the more they learn. Ours can dance, laugh and cry like a baby. They are very smart and they do know what they say.
