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
- MMSDanielleS11almost 13 yearsElephant's can do many amazing things that we might have not known they could do. We all knew they could paint pictures, calculate math problems, and wash cars. But I bet no one knew an elephant could learn to speak! I bet it was an extrodinary find when they found out the elephant could speak. Knowing they have no lips it would almost be impossible for them to speak! Well not for this elephant.Koshik learned how to speak by immitating his trainer's and putting his trunk on his throat. I think this is amazing because I would have never expected an elephant to learn how to speak!
- MMSTylerS20almost 13 yearsThis is really cool that that scientist taught the elephant how to speak korean. I wish i could learn how to speak korean then meet the elephant and hear it talk. I wonder how they can calcuate math problems,paint, and wash cars! Scientist will probably figure out a way to see if he knows what the word means. I think many zookeepers in korea would teach all of there zoo elephants to speak.
chimpboy24almost 13 yearsso coooool
bubblelovealmost 13 yearsi know right he started saying things because he was lonely
- MMSHayleyS10almost 13 yearsI think it's really cool that they taught this elephant how to speak korean. I want to meet this elephant so badly, who wouldn't. Elephants are known to do things like paint pictures, calcuate math problems, and wash cars. This discovery of the talking elephant is big news because elephants can't maove their lips to make noises like you, me, and everyone else on the earth can. This elephant learned that if he put his trunk down his throat he could make words. Even though he might not know what he is saying he still can talk.
- MMSGraceWS3almost 13 yearsIn this article I learned a few things. The first thing that I learned is their upper lip is connected to their nose. I learned that pachyderm means any of the thick-skinned ungulates such as the elephant and the rhino. Koshik, an elephant from South Korea seems to talk from moving his trunk from inside his throat. They think he learned to talk when he first came to the zoo and there weren't any other elephants. That is what I learned from this article.
- Haydenalmost 13 yearsthats cool!!!!!!! A Elephant can speak korean!
- MMSMadisonH11almost 13 yearsElephants are known to do many things like paint, calculate math problems and wash cars. People thought it was impossible for an elephant to talk because they can not use their lips to make sounds like humans. Koshik learned the Korean language, he can only say five words such as hello good, no, sit down, and lie down. He somehow does this by putting his trunck in his thoart. Scientst also belive that Koshik is imitating the words while he may not understand the meaning. He is not expecting a person to obey him because he may or may not even realize what he is saying.
- PSYalmost 13 yearsgangnam style
aquagirlalmost 13 yearsi love gangnam style hehe
locknessalmost 13 yearsthat is REALLY cool. if i was an elephant, i would be sooooo jealous of this guy! plus Gangnam Style is only a teeny tiny step away!!!- stevenalmost 13 yearsi did not know that a elephant can speak koreanthats so cool!