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
kitkatsalmost 13 yearsA elephant that speaks korean I will try to teach Bugzzy korean. I love the video of the elephant speaking Korean .that was cool how it did it was it used it trunk as a lip.- swifter22almost 13 yearsthat is amazing now how do i get my dog to do that?!
- Zu zakealmost 13 yearsI wish I had an elephant to tell me the answers to my homework.
- troyalmost 13 yearsthis is cool and stuff
lizard108almost 13 yearsIts awsome how koshik could speak korean.I wonder if koshik speak aribic? When I get home I,m going to try to teach my gecko aribic if he had lips.In your face koshik!- lizard108almost 13 yearsIts super cool how koshik could speak korean. I wonder if koshik could speak aribic? When I get home I'm going to make a boot camp for my gecko to speak aribic.In your face koshik!
djmixalmost 13 yearsif i heard the elephant takl in real life i would freak out.so if i had a elephant as a pet and speak it would be soooooooooooo!!!!! cool.if i was a trainer i would be so aumased if i was.
ej7almost 13 yearsWow this is pretty cool follow me if you think so:)- lizard108almost 13 yearsIts cool how Koshik can speak korean.I wonder if he could also speak aribic.I also wonder if Gila monster Jr. could speak korean if he had lips
android3almost 13 yearsits aswome how he could speak korean so the people could amazingle under stand Koshik.I wonder how he could speak korean and if the trainers told him how to say it. I wonder if there is an elephant that speaks inglish. It would be aswome if it could sing Gangnam style.It would be also cool if he could sing