It’s that same the other way round, dogs to an extent can understand, but a whale doesn’t know we call it a whale.

  • ricdeh
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    13 days ago

    Not true. The “words” with which specific species call some others has been determined and can be observed, so “we would never know” is false.

  • Poem_for_your_sprog
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    13 days ago

    My dog has specific vocalizations for known guests, unknown guests, my spouse, and rabbits.

      • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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        13 days ago

        Yeah, when a wolf calls you may or may not be in trouble.

        When they call, and they use your middle name, it’s time to worry.

  • themeatbridge
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    13 days ago

    We study animal communication a lot. We know when many different animals have a noise or communication for “human.” Bees have different dances to describe arbitrary locations, so they could also have a specific dance for “that jerk over there with the mesh helmet.”