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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 03: People bring out their dogs, cats, and pets to be blessed at the Washington National Cathedral on October 03, 2021 in Washington, DC. IIn honor of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, Christians celebrate by blessing animals and praying. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Tasos Katopodis<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The idea of a device that decodes animal sounds \u2014 turning squeaks, clicks and meows into human language \u2014 has been a staple of science fiction for decades, popping up in everything from Pixar\u2019s Up to Rick and Morty. Now, advances in artificial intelligence and technology are nudging that fantasy closer to reality, though scientists caution we are still a long way from a working \u201canimal translator.\u201d<\/p>\n
Animals Are More Expressive Than We Thought<\/p>\n
Researchers studying animal communication say many species may be far more expressive than humans previously understood, even if most cannot produce human language.<\/p>\n
Michael Long, a neuroscientist at New York University, told Science News,<\/a> \u201cAnimals are speaking \u2014 to use speaking in a very loose way \u2014 more vibrantly than we had ever given them credit for,\u201d though he notes that fewer than 1 percent of vertebrate species have the mental and physical ability for complex vocal learning like humans.<\/p>\n That small percentage, however, includes some remarkable communicators.<\/p>\n Whales, Dolphins and Parrots Lead the Way<\/p>\n Dolphins, whales and parrots are often considered the most promising species for studying interspecies communication because of their vocal learning abilities.<\/p>\n In 2023, researchers reported<\/a> decoding a humpback whale \u201chello\u201d and using it to engage in a brief back-and-forth exchange with a whale in Alaska. The calls were repeated whale sounds interpreted as greetings. Other studies show whale communication may follow patterns similar to human language, raising intriguing questions about what these animals might be saying to each other beneath the waves.<\/p>\n Dogs Can Learn Words by Eavesdropping<\/p>\n Research into animal cognition is not limited to the ocean. A 2026 study<\/a> found that dogs with advanced word-learning ability have a skill that puts them functionally on par with 18-month-old children: They can learn the names of new toys not only through direct instruction but also by eavesdropping on the conversations of their owners.<\/p>\n