Parrots charm people with their bright beauty, funny antics, and some of them also impress with their ability to imitate human speech. Do parrots really talk or is it just a clever imitation of sounds?
Immersion in the world of bird communication
Scientists from Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have been studying the language abilities of parrots for many years. Their research has shown that birds do not simply repeat the phrases they hear, but also have a certain flexibility in their use of language.
The language board is one method that researchers have used to study bird language. This method involves teaching the parrot a set of symbols that stand for certain words or phrases.
Studies have shown that some parrots, such as the jacco, are able to learn up to 85% of the symbols from the language board. This shows that they not only imitate the sounds, but also understand the meaning of the words they pronounce.
How close are parrots to human language?
It is important to note that the bird brain is significantly different from the human brain. This means that parrots are not capable of deep conversations or complex dialogues.
However, some individuals, such as the famous Jaco Alex, have shown impressive abilities. Alex had a vocabulary of over 400 words, understood grammatical constructions and even used pronouns.
Can every parrot learn to talk?
The ability to imitate speech varies depending on the species of parrot. Some, like the jackal and the macaw, have a greater tendency to learn,
while others, such as budgies, tend to acquire a smaller vocabulary.
In addition to species characteristics, the development of a parrot's speech abilities is influenced by its living conditions.
Birds that live in a social environment and receive enough attention and stimulation,as a rule, learn to speak better.
Parrots undoubtedly have unique language abilities that are still not fully understood.
Their ability to mimic human speech and understand the meaning of words makes them one of the most interesting creatures in the animal world.
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