An Elephant That Speaks Korean? . . . . . . Hmmmm!
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
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
Cite Article
Geography
Learn Keywords in this Article
902 Comments
vetgirlalmost 13 yearshallo peeps this is totally cool no this is a miracle- Avaalmost 13 yearsTeach him gamgnam style
- MMSChristianW11almost 13 yearsI think that it is interesting how an elephant is so ergent to be social that it taught itself to speak Korean. It is also interesting how this happens by him putting his trunk in his throat and making himself talk. This was impossible for any mammal to speak other than humans and now Elephants can speak. His zoo keepers also think that he can talk because he was brought in when he was only three. He was the only elephant in the zoo to. It would be cool listening to an elephant sing gangnam style to!
- hayalmost 13 yearsyou should know how to sing gangnam style
- vetgirlalmost 13 yearsi love that song and i know how to sing it to
simonbolivaralmost 13 yearscool
funsunalmost 13 yearsi love gangnam style and that would be cool i would hear that a lot- Namealmost 13 yearsawsome
moonravenalmost 13 yearsdat's coooooooool, facinating, never knew that, kinda wierdish but awesome!- danikaalmost 13 yearscool i never saw a elephant speak befour in korean
girly345almost 13 yearsthat is so cool and amazing!!!