Scientist Says Prairie Dogs Have Own Language

[eleonora]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. − Prairie dogs, those little pups popping in and out of holes on vacant lots and rural rangeland, are talking up a storm. They have different "words" for tall human in yellow shirt, short human in green shirt, coyote, deer, red-tailed hawk and many other creatures.

They can even coin new terms for things they've never seen before, independently coming up with the same calls or words, according to Con Slobodchikoff, a Northern Arizona University biology professor and prairie dog linguist.

Prairie dogs of the Gunnison's species, which Slobodchikoff has studied, speak different dialects in Grants and Taos, N.M.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; and Monarch Pass, Colo., but they would likely understand one another, the professor says.

"So far, I think we are showing the most sophisticated communication system that anyone has shown in animals," Slobodchikoff said.

http://www.enn.com/ch_wild.html?id=100

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I want to know how to say tall human in green shirt in Prairie Doggish!!

[tridim]

1. I have a prairie dog reserve behind my house

I'll have to stop by tomorrow and eavesdrop for awhile.

[eleonora]

4. Tell me if you catch anything

I heard they're planning a coup

:)

edit: big typo

[salvorhardin]

2. When I had guinea pigs

I swore they had a language. They definitely had a distinct vocalization for 'carrot' (their favorite treat) and 'want carrot'.
.

[Elidor]

3. "Asshole on a lawn-mower at 5 o'clock!"

I read an anecdote a while back about monkeys who have been taught to sign. Even with a rudimentary vocabulary of only 2 or 3 dozen words, one of them managed to sign, "Shit-scientist," to one of his or her degreed handlers.

Priceless.

[eleonora]

5. rofl..that's precious n/t

[vpigrad]

6. Ever talked to a prairie dog killer?

They don't collect them for the fur like those people do with coyotes or bear. They don't collect them for the meat like those people do with deer or ducks. They just kill them! It's disgusting what hunters in this country can get away with.

[Radical Activist]

7. You find a lot of things in the desert and prairie

mushrooms, peyote...talking prairie dogs. Not that there's a connection there or anything...