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| {{Other uses|Talking bird (disambiguation)}} | |||
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| A '''talking bird''' is a bird that can use and understand human language, rather than merely mimicking words and phrases. There is controversy about whether parrots are capable of using language, or merely mimic what they hear. However, some scientific studies—for example those conducted over a 30-year period by ] with an African Grey named ] and other parrots, covered in stories on network television on numerous occasions<ref></ref>—have suggested that these parrots are capable of using words meaningfully in linguistic tasks.<ref></ref> | A '''talking bird''' is a bird that can use and understand human language, rather than merely mimicking words and phrases. There is controversy about whether parrots are capable of using language, or merely mimic what they hear. However, some scientific studies—for example those conducted over a 30-year period by ] with an African Grey named ] and other parrots, covered in stories on network television on numerous occasions<ref></ref>—have suggested that these parrots are capable of using words meaningfully in linguistic tasks.<ref></ref> | ||
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A talking bird is a bird that can use and understand human language, rather than merely mimicking words and phrases. There is controversy about whether parrots are capable of using language, or merely mimic what they hear. However, some scientific studies—for example those conducted over a 30-year period by Irene Pepperberg with an African Grey named Alex and other parrots, covered in stories on network television on numerous occasions—have suggested that these parrots are capable of using words meaningfully in linguistic tasks.
Famous talking birds
"Alex" had a vocabulary of about 100 words, substantially less than world record holders, but he is perhaps the best known talking bird due to the publicity surrounding his potential cognitive abilities. In learning to speak, Alex showed scientist Irene Pepperberg that he understood categories like "same and different" and "bigger and smaller". He could identify objects by their shape ("Three-corner", "Four-corner", up to "Six-corner") and material: when shown a pom-pom or a wooden block, he could answer "Wool" or "Wood" correctly, about 80% of the time. Alex could identify the difference between yellow and green same-sized objects by saying "Color" or identify a larger one by naming its color. If asked what the difference was between two identical blue keys, Alex learned to reply, "None" (he pronounced it "Nuh"). Alex died on September 6, 2007.
Scientists in France and the Czech Republic have also had some success in teaching African Grey Parrots to label items referentially using human language, albeit using a different teaching methodology to that of Pepperberg - which was found to be ineffective in the case of the particular birds within the study.
"N'kisi" is noted for his impressive English usage skills and other abilities. As of January 2004, he had a documented vocabulary of 950 words. N'kisi is believed to be one of the most advanced users of human language in the animal world.
"Einstein" appeared on many television shows and became famous for her ability to talk.
Criticisms
Some in the scientific community are skeptical of Pepperberg's findings, pointing to Alex's communications as operant conditioning. Critics point to the case of Clever Hans, a horse who could apparently count, but who was actually understanding subtle cues from the questioner. In another case, Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee was thought to be using language, but there is some debate over whether he simply imitated his teacher. Dr. Herbert Terrace, who worked with Nim Chimpsky, says he thinks Alex performed by rote rather than using language; he calls Alex's responses "a complex discriminating performance", adding that in every situation, "there is an external stimulus that guides his response." However,supporters of Alex mention that Alex was able to talk to and perform for anyone involved in the project as well as complete strangers who recorded findings unassisted and during first contact with the bird, making the arguments of rote learning and operant conditioning difficult to substantiate.
See also
References
- Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence-and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process: Amazon.de: Irene Pepperberg: Englische Bücher
- Parrot Intelligence
- Pepperberg, Irene Maxine (2000). The Alex Studies: Cognitive and Communicative Abilities of Grey Parrots. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674000513.
- Smith, Dinitia (October 9, 1999). "A Thinking Bird or Just Another Birdbrain?". The New York Times.
- "Researchers explore whether parrot has concept of zero". World Science. July 2, 2005.
- Talbot, Margaret Talbot (MAY 12, 2008). "BIRDBRAIN: The woman behind the world's chattiest parrots". The New Yorker. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Carey, Benedict (September 10, 2007). "Alex, a Parrot Who Had a Way With Words, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- Giret, Nicholas (2010). "Referential learning of French and Czech labels in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus): Different methods yield contrasting results" (PDF). Behavioural Processes. 85 (2): 90–98. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Morelle, Rebecca (May 1, 2007). "Animal world's communication kings". BBC News.
- David Chandler (September 11, 2007) Farewell to a famous parrot: Alex, who could talk and count, dies at 31. Retrieved on September 11, 2007
- ^ Smith, Dinitia (October 9, 1999). "A Thinking Bird or Just Another Birdbrain?". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
- "Alex the African Grey". The Economist. September 20, 2007. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
Science's best known parrot died on September 6th, aged 31
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
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