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
- MMSEmilyU6-7almost 13 yearsI think this article is very interesting. That is so cool how the elephant can put his trunk against his throat and speak Korean! He actually does sound like a human being talking. Scientists think that Koshik has been mimicking humans. Maybe Koshik wants to communicate with his care takers. Well, now Koshik can try to teach his female companion to speak Korean, too!
vetgirlalmost 13 yearsnow that would be cool
- MMSBrennenS10almost 13 yearsThis article was about an elephant named Koshik who learned how to speak five words in Korean. If my dog could speak English that would be really impressive. I've heard that elephants have a great memory but how can they process all that information. In my opinion I think elephants mean good luck. The elephant in this article is really amazing. I wonder if there are many more like Koshik that scientist haven't discovered yet. I learned that a pachyderm is a thick skined animal such as an elephant .Overall I thought this article was cool and very interesting.
- aharamalmost 13 yearsThis so interesting how an elephant can speak Korean. Like the article said I hope it could Gangnam Style.
- i10almost 13 yearsoppa gandam style :D
- macee almost 13 yearshaha cool
- nahtealmost 13 years3 word: so a amazing
- mmsdaniellek67almost 13 yearsin this articular i have learned a lot of amazing cool things. elephants are known to paint, math problems, and was cars. but i have never seen an elephant speak a different language in my life! i think that it is cool that in 15 years an elephant can learn a language from people talking around him.
- Prank Girlalmost 13 yearsI played a prank on my friend that I created DOGONEWS! So funny! :D
- Prank Girlalmost 13 yearsI played a prank on my friend that I created DOGONEWS. So funny! ;D
ladybug01almost 13 yearsI wonder i f he can translate gangnam style, now it would be Koshik Style!