RUFUS
Posted on 08/30/2016 5:17:09 PM PDT by JimSEA
Dogs have the ability to distinguish vocabulary words and the intonation of human speech through brain regions similar to those that humans use, a new study reports.
Attila Andics et al. note that vocabulary learning "does not appear to be a uniquely human capacity that follows from the emergence of language, but rather a more ancient function that can be exploited to link arbitrary sound sequences to meanings."
Words are the basic building blocks of human languages, but they are hardly ever found in nonhuman vocal communications. Intonation is another way that information is conveyed through speech, where, for example, praises tend to be conveyed with higher and more varying pitch. Humans understand speech through both vocabulary and intonation.
Here, Andics and colleagues explored whether dogs also depend on both mechanisms. Dogs were exposed to recordings of their trainers' voices as the trainers spoke to them using multiple combinations of vocabulary and intonation, in both praising and neutral ways.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Most of us pet lovers will agree heartily with the study's conclusions. I've had dogs living with me for my entire life except when I was in the service. Some were smarter than others but all responded and minded me speaking to them in a calm conversational voice. They understand the meaning of a large number of words. Of course, my current French Bulldog mix seems the smartest.
I had to spell in front of one of my Golden Retrievers. When she became deaf in her later years, she taught herself sign language. We didn’t even realize that she was deaf. One of my neighbors pointed it out to me.
Dogs prefer belly rubs over treats
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They understand intonation, but words? Huh uh.
My red Heeler was stone deaf at about 11 years. No matter though because she knew my routines and her duties brilliantly. She was also a lip reader.
Um... when I say the word “bath’ to my dog... she sometimes hides under the table. LOL
I was talking to a French Poodle, but he didn’t understand American.
So I says, “Oui! Oui!” and he peed on the couch.
If you talk about her ears bothering her, she again leaves. BUT when you ask her other things about her ears, like if she wants them rubbed, she comes near.
Our late dog, awake or asleep, would jump up and run to the door when she heard me say “grass?”.
All dogs need is opposable paws.
I had some dogs a while back. I had a Lab-Golden mix who was a fetching genius, but I’m pretty sure he could distinguish about 3 dozen words, and of course he was sensitive to intonations. I used to try to experiment with toneless pronunciations of things like “walk” “outside” “cheese” and so forth. He knew.
Many people claim much wider vocabs for their dogs. I estimated that in a non-verbal way, he was about as smart as a toddler, obviously without the developmental potential.
Well, i guess they know the answer to “who’s a good boy?” now don’t they? They always played along, I think, for entertainment value.
BS, I can talk to my dog in regular tone i.e. commands, she understands all of them. She can also here me put on my socks and shoes from the other end of the house. She understands when I say she has to stay home and watch the house in a normal conversational tone of voice, she gets a sad face but she understands,
Good looking dog.
My dogs know exactly what the word “chicken” means.
Dogs don’t understand words or language. As fellow mammals, they share enough of our life experience that they can easily tune in to our feelings and wishes.
All dogs are smarter than liberals...
Water breeds like Labs and Goldens usually love a bath. Most hounds hate it. I took in a Walker Hound and she will do a spread eagle with all her might, to keep from going into the bathtub. She acts miserable the entire time she’s in there, but the minute she’s toweled off and out, she’s frisky and happy as a clam.
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