Conversations are, without a doubt, a means of communication that can occur between people to understand one another. The words we say are sounds generated from our vocal cords that others can listen and interpret. An amazing and powerful means of communication only meant for our species. However, we know that animals also have vocal sounds that exhibit some sort of communication. Their forms of sounds and communication leads to a question: do animals have conversations?
To answer that question, we first need to understand what types of communication types there are among animals. According to the YouTube video Types of animal communication | Individuals and Society | MCAT | Khan Academy by khanacademymedicine, there is auditory, chemical, somatosensory, visual, and more types of communication that animals achieve among each other. The communication types showcase that animals have a distinct behavioral temperance to hold a conversation, but can they have one?
Having a conversation means there needs to be some sort of language. A language consists of words, grammar, displacement, productivity, and discreetness. According to the YouTube video Do animals have language? – Michele Bishop by TED-Ed, some animals do have a sort of language tied to their ability of communication. Animals can identify their predators and their traits, conveying relevant information about them among their species. There is also shared knowledge of natural resources that animals can pass among one another as a form of communication for survival.
Not all animals possess the means of having a language, sadly. Languages are complex systems of communication that involve intricate patterns to help articulate meanings of things. With the ability to communicate with a language, animals that possess a language become more capable than other species of animals.
There is only one problem with the conversation discovery. Only the animals with strong intelligence and memories can hold conversations. The conversations they hold are not very long either; simple sounds and gestures convey their words in singular context without much depth. Despite the limitations, the remarkable fact that even animals have conversations is astounding.
Animals are certainly capable of many things and continue to be ever impressive. Their ability to communicate with or without languages, sense and perceive dangers with chemical signals, and even hold small conversations is nothing short of awesome. Perhaps one day, all animals will have a unique communication type that contains a language unique enough to hold a long conversation.
The name “Pondersaur” means “words with a roar” alluding to the creature’s distinct communication.
