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

rampartd

(5,894 posts)
3. what do you think of koko the signing gorilla?
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 08:09 AM
Saturday

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

(12,501 posts)
5. Just so you know
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 09:19 AM
Saturday

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

(27,832 posts)
9. Oh, so that makes you the
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 10:09 AM
Saturday

"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

(12,501 posts)
16. Oh, the "lion blinker"
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 03:02 PM
Saturday

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

(53,010 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
Saturday

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
Saturday

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

(36,005 posts)
10. Definitely animals.
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 10:09 AM
Saturday

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

(36,005 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
Saturday

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

(23,881 posts)
15. I already speak a selection of species
Sat Jul 11, 2026, 01:30 PM
Saturday

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

Human language not so much


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