The GuardianThe Guardian

Talk to the animals? Study shows some human understanding of creatures’ sounds

By Nicola Davis

07 Dec 2022 · 3 min read

Editor's Note

Do you ever find yourself speaking to your pets? Recent research has found that human's can understand an array of animal sounds. The Guardian has the story.

It might not be animal communication Dr Dolittle-style, but researchers have found humans are able to glean insights into the feelings of creatures including pigs, horses and goats based on their vocalisations.

The team say the findings suggest certain information within sounds, such as how intense an animal’s emotions are, appears to be conveyed in a similar way across species.

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