If a computer can translate prairie dog sounds, there’s no reason a similar program can’t be used for other animals. The computer can even reverse the direction and create calls in the prairie dog language. That has allowed Slobodchikoff, along with computer scientists, to develop an algorithm that can translate the alarm calls into English words. What sounds like a quick chirp to a human actually says far more to a fellow prairie dog, such as, “fast-moving, yellow, rectangular-shaped coyote.”Įach type of alarm call has a very specific context, and a computer can distinguish the different types. There is so much information encoded in these calls, such as size, type, and even color of predator, that Slobodchikoff has labeled it a language. Slobodchikoff has spent three decades studying prairie dog communication and has discovered unexpected and incredible sophistication in their alarm calls. Zoolingua hopes that by developing such cutting-edge technology, it can improve the relationship we have with our dogs. Imagine pointing your cell phone at your dog and having it translate your dog’s sounds and body language into English words and your words into woofs. Although that seems like a childhood fantasy, thanks to rigorous scientific research and advanced technology that might become a reality within the next two years.īiologist Con Slobodchikoff, an expert in animal communication and the author of “Chasing Doctor Doolittle: Learning the Language of Animals,” is the founder of Zoolingua, a company that wants to help us talk to our pets. When you were growing up, did you ever wish you could talk to your dog? So many children dream of being a real-life Doctor Doolittle, interpreting their pet’s woofs and growls and being able to bark back.
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