Here’s a great article from National Public Radio on the wonders of language, as it relates to all manner of creatures, from bird to man. You’ve likely heard of Alex, the talking parrot and probably seen the video of the twin babies, conversing in their kitchen. His case was one of extreme wonder for just about everyone, from children to adults. Deep in the recesses of his brain, one must wonder just how much comprehension exists. While we have known for years that parrots and other avian species have the physical capability to make human sounds, whether or not they understood any of their actions and interactions were far less researched.
While in colloquial talk, birds and parrots are considered to be relatively unintelligent (e.g. birdbrains), modern research has taught us that in fact avian species have hugely developed neural systems not only for vocalization, but also interpretation of auditory stimuli. In fact, considering their breeding habits, it is no exaggeration to say that the very survival of their species are dependent on the communication between males and females via language and communication.
Alex taught us that avian species’ understanding is not just limited to their cohorts, but across species as well. Such a dramatic breakthrough allows us to rethink just how language is defined and its practical considerations as well. Not to overstate it, but this parrot led to a revolutionary and radical rethinking of language development.
The reasons for our fascination are myriad, but perhaps most striking about these video clips are the way they make us question just how much communication is actually occurring. Prosody, also known as ‘the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech’ is part of what makes it seem that these twins are actually having a real conversation, complete with hand gestures, verbal inflection, and various intonations.
Read more at the link below.