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Cows 'moo' with an accent, farmers believe
Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 8/24/06 | Reuters

Posted on 08/24/2006 8:38:33 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

LONDON (Reuters) - Cows have regional accents, a group of British farmers claims, and phonetics experts say the idea is not as far-fetched as it sounds.

Lloyd Green, from southwest England, was one of a group of farmers who first noticed the phenomenon.

"I spend a lot of time with my Friesians and they definitely 'moo' with a Somerset drawl," he said, referring to the breed of dairy cow he owns.

"I've spoken to the other farmers in the West Country group and they have noticed a similar development in their own herds.

"I think it works the same as with dogs - the closer a farmer's bond is with his animals, the easier it is for them to pick up his accent."

Dom Lane, spokesman for a group called the West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers to which Green belongs, said it contacted John Wells, Professor of Phonetics at University College London, who said that a similar phenomenon had been found in birds.

"You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country. This could also be true of cows," Wells said on the group's Web site (www.farmhousecheesemakers.com).

According to Lane, accents among cows probably develop in a similar way as among humans, and resulted from spending time with farmers with differing accents.

"Apparently the biggest influence on accents is peer groups - on children in the playground, for example," he said. "Herds are quite tight-knit communities and don't tend to leave the area."

He added that more scientific research was needed to prove what was just an anecdotal theory at this stage.


TOPICS: Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: accent; believe; cows; farmers; moo

A cow a file photo. Cows have regional accents, a group of British farmers claims, and phonetics experts say the idea is not as far-fetched as it sounds. (Shaun Best/Reuters)


1 posted on 08/24/2006 8:38:34 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

2 posted on 08/24/2006 8:50:18 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (You! Shake your junk!)
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To: NormsRevenge

Something in the way she moos
Attracts me like no other heifer

3 posted on 08/24/2006 8:56:14 PM PDT by Semi Civil Servant (Colorado: the original Red State.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Dupe.
4 posted on 08/24/2006 8:57:01 PM PDT by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
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To: Gordongekko909

Thanks!


5 posted on 08/24/2006 9:01:32 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......Help the "Pendleton 8' and families -- http://www.freerepublic.com/~normsrevenge/)
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To: NormsRevenge

Le Moo.


6 posted on 08/24/2006 9:26:10 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter ( Helen Thomas on anticipating and handling a crisis: "I'll live under that bridge when I get to it.")
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To: NormsRevenge
Crass Yankee cows say "Moo". Genteel and refined Southern cows say "Mer".

7 posted on 08/24/2006 9:28:58 PM PDT by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I thought that burger I had had a bit of a "Frenchie" taste to it...


8 posted on 08/24/2006 9:55:11 PM PDT by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: William Terrell
Crass Yankee cows say "Moo". Genteel and refined Southern cows say "Mer".

And the difference between a Yankee girl and a Southern girl is that a Yankee girl says, "Yes, you can.", while a Southern girl says, "Yes you all can."

9 posted on 08/25/2006 1:24:56 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Peace begins in the womb.)
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To: Jeff Chandler

Actually, she says "y'all can, y'hear?"


10 posted on 08/25/2006 5:52:31 AM PDT by JRios1968 (This kid knows how to wallop a baseball!!!!!!)
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