Exploring Animal Sounds in Different Languages

  • Lingusitics
  • Thread starter BillTre
  • Start date
In summary, the conversation discusses the different sounds that dogs make in various languages and the reasons behind those sounds. It also touches on the vocalizations of other animals in different languages. The article referenced in the conversation discusses how vocalizations are a form of communication for dogs and how they differ from those of their wild counterpart, the wolf. It also mentions the social nature of dogs and how it affects their vocalizations.
  • #1
BillTre
Science Advisor
Gold Member
2,471
9,556
Are these real dogs sounds from other languages, or did the guy just make them up?

Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 1.22.48 PM.png
 
  • Like
Likes hutchphd
Science news on Phys.org
  • #2
Don't know the others, but in German it is Wau-Wau (pronounced like Wow but with a V at the beginning).
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes Klystron, Keith_McClary and BillTre
  • #3
ARF !
 
  • Skeptical
  • Wow
Likes Keith_McClary and BillTre
  • #4
My Gracie Girl coonhound whines when she knows it's time to eat, pee, jump on the king size bed . . . !:smile:
I love her and she knows it! :kiss:
 
  • #5
The sounds of dogs are those which the dog makes. Any human attempt to represent some of those sounds using WORDED speech, like some word, "woof", or "arf", or the like, is just a piece of what A HUMAN DOES WITH WHATEVER LANGUAGE HE HAS OR KNOWS. Now we know why we are introduced to Onomatopoeia in junior high school and high school.
 
  • #6
SCIENCE AND HISTORY

Dog Speak: The Sounds of Dogs

Understanding dog barks, more than just noise

By Julie Hecht, February 2013, Updated March 2020

[ . . . ]

Dogs are anything but mute, and while we usually focus on wagging tails and beguiling eyes, vocalizations—among them, barks and growls—provide us with another window into dogs’ everyday experiences.

[ . . .]

Social species are known to be much noisier than animals who lead solitary lives. Snow leopards roam the mountains of central Asia in near silence, but groups of monkeys do a lot of highvolume chattering. So, given that dogs and their wild progenitor, the wolf, are über-social, it’s no surprise that both produce a wide range of vocalizations: they bark, whine, whimper, howl, huff, growl, yelp and yip (among other nuanced sounds). From the earliest moments of their lives, dogs and their canid relatives produce tonal yelps and whines, and atonal barks and grunts appear in the first few weeks of life in conjunction with the onset of social behavior.

There’s a big difference between the bark of an adult dog and that of an adult wolf, however. Dogs seem to play every instrument in the orchestra, hitting the highs of the flute and the lows of the tuba, sometimes with the duration of a Wagnerian opera. Plus, there seems to be no context in which a dog won’t bark: They bark when alone and with other dogs. Some bark before, during and even after a ball is thrown. A car goes by or the doorbell rings and barking ensues. In contrast, wolves bark less frequently and in fewer contexts, primarily for warning or defense.

[ . . . ]

https://thebark.com/content/dog-speak-sounds-dogs
 
  • #8
Finnish dogs say “hau-hau” (pretty much like “how-how” in English)

For other Finnish animals, see here.
 
  • Like
Likes BillTre
  • #9
jtbell said:
Finnish dogs say “hau-hau” (pretty much like “how-how” in English)
Turns out Finnish dogs and Polish dogs speak the same language.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes jtbell, Keith_McClary, hutchphd and 1 other person
  • #10
Bandersnatch said:
Turns out Finnish dogs and Polish dogs speak the same language.
And we have the same sound with a V at the beginning. The silent barks go "wuff = vooff".
 
  • Like
Likes BillTre
  • #11
While this thread is about the sounds dogs make, I am intrigued by words for animals.

The Thai word for dog หมา pronounced "ma" does not sound much like a bark to me.
The Thai word for cat แมว pronounced "meow" definitely sounds like a cat vocalization.

If you expect Thai for cow วัว to sound like "moo", you would be disappointed; cow is pronounced "uwa", somewhat similar to Latin for grape uva. In Thai "moo" means pig หมู .
 

1. What are some common dog sounds in other languages?

In French, a dog's sound is often written as "ouaf ouaf" or "wouf wouf." In Spanish, it is commonly written as "guau guau" or "jau jau." In German, a dog's sound is often written as "wau wau." These are just a few examples, as different languages may have different ways of representing a dog's sound.

2. Do dogs make different sounds in different languages?

While dogs may make different sounds in different languages, the basic sound of a dog's bark is the same across all languages. The variations in how the sound is written or pronounced is due to the differences in language and culture.

3. Why do dogs make sounds in different languages?

Dogs make sounds in different languages simply because they are responding to their environment and the communication cues they have learned from their owners or other dogs. The sounds they make are not specific to any language, but rather a form of communication.

4. Are there any cultural differences in how dogs are perceived based on their sounds?

Yes, there are cultural differences in how dogs are perceived based on their sounds. For example, in some cultures, a dog's bark may be seen as a sign of aggression or warning, while in others it may be seen as a playful or friendly sound. These perceptions may also vary within a single culture.

5. Can dogs understand and respond to sounds in different languages?

While dogs may not understand the meaning of words in different languages, they can learn to associate certain sounds with specific actions or behaviors. For example, a dog may learn to respond to the command "sit" in English, but may also learn to respond to the command "assis" in French. This is because dogs are highly adaptable and can learn to respond to different sounds and cues from their owners.

Similar threads

  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
4
Views
980
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
34
Views
2K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
4
Views
800
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
4
Replies
112
Views
5K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
2
Views
839
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
2
Replies
64
Views
12K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • Art, Music, History, and Linguistics
Replies
3
Views
1K
Back
Top