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Dogs know when you're speaking a different language -- and talking nonsense:
Dogs know when you're speaking a different language -- and talking nonsense. The idea of being able to speak to creatures in their own distinct language was a thrilling prospect. And then there were veterinarians like Dr. James Herriot and his treasury of tales that showed he truly understood the nature of animals.
Now, while working from home and spending more time with our pets, perhaps we've reached a form of understanding that crosses the linguistic barrier.
[...] But even more fascinating is the idea that we're not entirely different -- that we share things in common, some of which used to be considered strictly human qualities. By recognizing our own traits in animals, we can understand them better.
[There is a video embedded in the story. Here is a similar YouTube video I found on the web.--martyb]
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Monday January 10 2022, @10:02PM
It's harder (but not impossible) for humans to learn new languages when older.
The largest part of this appears to be the difficulty of recognising syllables that do not occur,
or differences between syllables that are considered the same, in your first language - if not
exposed to them before the age of 12.
My wife and I have done quite well learning Spanish by watching Spanish films on Netflix,
although we probably have very weird accents.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!