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.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Not just elephants, birds have special calls for humans and even give descriptions.

      Corvids especially, piss off one and they’ll literally follow you around telling all the other birds you’re a dick.

      Be cool. And they’ll tell the other birds you’re cool.

  • Richard@lemmy.world
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    4 months 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.

      • DagwoodIII@piefed.social
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        4 months 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@lemmy.world
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    4 months 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.”