What Would You Say To A Dolphin?

[plowter]

Suppose someone invented a device that could translate human speech and dolphin clicks so both could talk to and understand each other.

The human and dolphin worlds have got very little in common, so what could you talk to a dolphin about?

[wildwood]

I would ask them if they notice Man's polution in the oceans, and how they feel about the brutal annual dolphin slaughter in East Asia.

In reality, even if we could converse, their language would be very simple and they would not be able to 'talk' in any intelligent way as we understand it.

[plowter]

Disagree with the intelligence part. In a dolphin's world most of what we think of as important would be meaningless.

For instance, imagine trying to explain to a dolphin about the wheel or fire or clothes?

Dolphins may be interested in the aquatic equivalent of weather so there may be commn ground there.

They'd probably discuss fish in detail because it's the main food source.

They'd be interested in sex (obviously) but we wouldn't know what attractive meant in the dolphin world. What could you say when a dolphin says 'phworr - look at the fins on that'?

[wolf63]

Darwin - the dolphin on Sea Quest DSV could speak with the help of a machiney thingy. So if it says on TV that they can talk then it must be true.

Next you will be telling me that my cats don't understand me - or, even worse than that, Lassie didn't really understand all the stuff that the humans said to her/him.

You have shattered my quiet little world with this line of negative thoughts about the cognitive abilities of our non-human friends.

[taliesin238]

Ask them if there is such thing as mermaids!!

[plowter]

No wolf63, my point isn't about intelligence or cognitave function (double word score). It's about culture.

You buy a new coat or shoes. You ask the cat whether they like them. Cat thinks 'what's the fuss about? Why not grow more fur?'.

You tell your cat about the brand new Ford Fiasco you've just bought. Cat sez 'Why do you need a car-thing? Will it help you hunt birds and small mammals?'

Animals and humans live in different worlds. If we don't have anything in common then how can we communicate? Do cats (or dolphins) have anything in common with humans?

[wolf63]

Birth, death, food, sleep, survival and sex about covers things that all animals have in common.

In Frankie the tom cat his priorities are food, sleep, play (as a result of neutering they become eternal kittens), food, sleep, food....and maybe food.

Humans consider themselves to be superior to all other animals - crapola. We are inferior in so many aspects.

In a wolf pack if a wolf does something that is unacceptable or breaks the pack rules then it is punished accordingly and severely. Our judicial system is a total farce. Elephants, wolves etc can teach us something about successful family structures.

Anyway I am off to turf Frankie and his lovely sister Merlin off my bed/his bed (not sure whose bed anymore) and then will try and sleep until morning - ignoring constant reminders from Frankie that he may starve if his little (?) feline stomach is not filled immediately.

[dot.hawkes]

oy, you can't park that ere

[ronnieB]

gissa voddie.lol

[plowter]

wolf63, found this on an earlier AB answer

Feline Alarm Clock

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh thank you plowter - "they'd probably discuss fish in detail..."

I'd like nothing better!
Sigh.....

[plowter]

Well Ice.Maiden, they might like scale models.

[Ice.Maiden]

Of THE "Fish"????? Better by the minute!
Swoon.

[plowter]

Oh Ice, you're being very theatrical tonight. Whats wrong?

[wolf63]

Plowter, thanks for the clip. Frankie went for the 'nibbling of human' method - but I got over two hours sleep. His sister never wakes me up - she just sits and stares at me.

Bah!