An Elephant That Speaks Korean? . . . . . . Hmmmm!
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Elephants have been known to do many things - Paint, calculate math problems, wash cars and in some cases even whistle and imitate sounds. But actually speak a language? That, is a first and until now thought to be impossible given that the mighty mammals cannot use their lips to make sounds like humans, because their upper lips and noses are fused together to form their trunks. However, one elephant in South Korea seems to be defying all logic and odds!
Koshik, a pachyderm that lives at the Everland Zoo in South Korea seems to have learnt the Korean language. While his vocabulary is limited to five words - "annyong" ("hello"), "choah" ("good"), "aniya" ("no"), "anja" ("sit down") and "nuo" ("lie down"), it is still causing a stir among experts. And what's amazing them even more so is how he is able to say the words - By somehow moving his trunk inside his throat.
Scientists believe that the Koshik's adoption of the Korean language can be explained by the fact that when he was brought to the zoo at the age of 5 in 1995, he was the only elephant there - A situation that did not change for seven years until he was 12 years old. They think that his desire to socialize was so strong that the smart elephant somehow figured out how to speak the language of the only companions he had - Humans! While the trainers first noticed him imitating the words in 2004, it is only recently that the words were actually analyzed by experts and confirmed as the Korean language. That explanation seems logical especially given that lately Koshik has not been talking in his human language as much, because he now has a female elephant companion to communicate with.
The scientists also believe that Koshik is merely imitating the words as a way to be social and that while he may understand their meaning, he is not expecting the person he is talking with to obey him (like when says rollover!). But that does not make Koshik's language skills any less amazing - Just shows where there is a will, there is a way! Now if only the smart elephant could belt out the words to Gangnam Style!
Resources: news.yahoo.com, livescience.com
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902 Comments
- kitten_kat_101over 12 yearsI've seen dogs that drive, cats that fly (long story), but a korean speaking elephant is a first
- Kobe24over 12 yearsWOW! an elephant that speaks Korean that's a first
- len kagimeover 12 yearsawsome i know a few words myself buts its japenese like ohio i wish i was a little more fluent at it though
- Eric Schaeferover 12 yearsI think it's cool because it is interesting that a giant elephant can talk or speak even though its mouth is closed. But I understand the he wants to bond with people because he was lonely. Now a dog has lips -- and it doesn't talk. So an elephant must be super duper smart.
b_j_cover 12 yearsAWESOME!
waddles996over 12 yearslol
j_b_e-bover 12 yearsthats so awsome
aaronalienover 12 yearsHmmmm well this is cool- MixMatchover 12 yearsMixmatch here, I think this korean speaking Elephant is incredibly cool! Lets teach him some english though!
- booover 12 yearshe is smart