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January 31, 2018 9:43 AM   Subscribe

Orca Quickly Learns to Mimic Human Speech: Listen.

Imitation of novel conspecific and human speech sounds in the killer whale (Orcinus orca)
José Z. Abramson, Mª Victoria Hernández-Lloreda, Lino García, Fernando Colmenares, Francisco Aboitiz, Josep Call, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2171
posted by the man of twists and turns (47 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
More vocalizations, some overlap
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:44 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Yikes. I try to think of happy orcas not at all the surviving fringe of the alien armada that's coming to exterminate us. Because I think they've used the same sounds a bit.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:59 AM on January 31, 2018


From the 'Listen' link - even Orcas know farts are funny. Told you they were smart.
posted by Brockles at 10:03 AM on January 31, 2018 [9 favorites]


It's so pitiful that we are always surprised by these things.
posted by Miko at 10:05 AM on January 31, 2018 [16 favorites]


It's so pitiful that we are always surprised by these things.


Years ago I found a summary of dolphin research in the 70s that hinted at some captive dolphin vocalizations being "hello" and "goodbye," just shifted way off pitch.

Can't seem to find it again.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:07 AM on January 31, 2018


I was at pub trivia once, and the hosts were some NPR idiots who were giving away as a prize one round a small stuffed orca. When they gave it away, they gleefully reminded the audience in that horrible NPR voice that orcas are actually fish!

Ever the jerk, I called out that they're definitely mammals. They replied over the mic that nope, look it up, they're fish!

So to continue being a jerk, I went to the wikipedia page and showed them that they were most certainly mammals, and asked if maybe what they meant to say was orca whales aren't whales at all, they're dolphins? Despite the evidence in front of his face, he yet again proclaimed they were fish and shooed me away.

Not sure what the point of my story is. I guess it's just the first thing that comes to mind now whenever I hear about orcas.

Stupid jerk trivia hosts.
posted by Grither at 10:10 AM on January 31, 2018 [57 favorites]


NPR as in National Public Radio? That surprises me.
posted by Splunge at 10:30 AM on January 31, 2018


Someone teach it McArthur Park.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:33 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Splunge "NPR as in National Public Radio? That surprises me."

Yes, National Public Radio. I think this incident is why I can't listen to most NPR podcasts. The know-it-all tone that most hosts seem to have is like nails on a chalkboard to me now.
posted by Grither at 10:41 AM on January 31, 2018 [6 favorites]




Sokka shot first "My gut tells me you were trolled."

So I figured I'd see if I could find who the guys were (not having much optimism for the task, since this was years ago), and the first thing that came up was this.

Turns out you appear to be correct!

My comment still stands, though:

Stupid jerk trivia hosts.
posted by Grither at 11:01 AM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]


Orcas are definitely smart enough to be dangerous.

In my experience, "smart" is anything but a prerequisite for "dangerous."
posted by MrGuilt at 11:03 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Not sure what the point of my story is. I guess it's just the first thing that comes to mind now whenever I hear about orcas.

Some less-jerky trivia professionals would be happy to tell you that there's no such thing as a fish.
posted by Navelgazer at 11:06 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


even Orcas know farts are funny

Considering which end we put underwater more often, maybe that's just the "speech" they hear more often?
posted by traveler_ at 11:10 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Years ago I found a summary of dolphin research in the 70s that hinted at some captive dolphin vocalizations being "hello" and "goodbye," just shifted way off pitch.

I believe you're thinking of the seminal monographs by British researcher D. N. Adams.
posted by The Tensor at 11:15 AM on January 31, 2018 [7 favorites]


My gut tells me you were trolled.

I'm pretty sure they did it on porpoise.

(Which are whales, btw.)
posted by tempestuoso at 11:18 AM on January 31, 2018 [8 favorites]


Honestly, the audio just sounds like a typical conversation between an adult and a nine-month-old baby.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:25 AM on January 31, 2018 [9 favorites]


Years ago I found a summary of dolphin research in the 70s that hinted at some captive dolphin vocalizations being "hello" and "goodbye," just shifted way off pitch.

Honestly intending no disrespect, but given the time frame are you sure you're not thinking of Day of the Dolphin with George C. Scott?
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 11:26 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Nobody is ever thinking about Day of the Dolphin with George C. Scott.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:33 AM on January 31, 2018 [22 favorites]


Fa loves Pa.
posted by Splunge at 11:35 AM on January 31, 2018 [6 favorites]


It's so pitiful that we are always surprised by these things.

Uh, what? The ability to learn new vocalizations is vanishingly rare across the animal kingdom, and this displays a level of flexibility in vocal imitation that's even more rare. So yes, this is surprising. Our closest primate relatives can't do this, at all.
posted by IjonTichy at 11:48 AM on January 31, 2018 [13 favorites]


So turns out Niven was almost right - it's orcas we're sending into space, not dolphins.
posted by GuyZero at 11:48 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Nobody is ever thinking about Day of the Dolphin with George C. Scott.

I was thinking about it before I even clicked "More Inside"
posted by Gorgik at 11:49 AM on January 31, 2018 [3 favorites]


*shrug* Parrots have been doing it better for venture, and nobody cares.

Also, CATS.
posted by happyroach at 11:50 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]


The only George C. Scott film I ever think of is Man Getting Hit By a Football.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:52 AM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]


Parrots have been doing it better for venture, and nobody cares.

I beg your pardon?
posted by Splunge at 11:55 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Is it just me, or did one of those orcas clearly say "I buried Paul"?
posted by rocket88 at 12:27 PM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]


My beloved, long dead black lab, Orson, once said "HAROLD."

You know how dogs do their anxiety yawns? And sometimes they vocalize during or after the yawn? Well, my visiting friend Pamela and I were being kind of loud, playing a game. Orson was attentively watching us eat snacks during the game. Obviously he wanted snacks, and he wanted us to shut up.

I was looking straight at Orson as he started to yawn. So was Pamela. When his mouth was halfway open he started to vocalize really loudly "HAAAAAIIIIIRRRR..."

Pamela and I looked at each other and then back at the dog.

Orson continued with "UHLD."

Instantly I say to Pamela "Did my dog just say Harold? As in... HAROLD?"

Pamela: "Yes, he did. Do you think that was his name before you adopted him?"
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:43 PM on January 31, 2018 [11 favorites]


Personally, I'm more interested in the sidebar article on decoding chicken vocalizations as I think my chickens are trying to communicate something to me. Though, if I know them as well as I think, it's probably "More bugs and corn, treat lady!"
posted by Sophie1 at 12:48 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Though, if I know them as well as I think, it's probably "More bugs and corn, treat lady!"

I translate the sounds I'm hearing lately as "Fuck you and your heated house, human. Just leave your scratch and get out of our sight."
posted by soren_lorensen at 12:56 PM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]


Send.

More.

Fish....
posted by Samizdata at 1:05 PM on January 31, 2018


Stupid jerk trivia hosts.

Are you sure it wasn't just Herman Melville?
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:20 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


Orcas are fucking arachnids, come on people.
posted by Segundus at 1:22 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


That right there is some Black Lodge-sounding shit.
posted by Beardman at 1:28 PM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]


My comment still stands, though

"In conclusion, stupid jerk trivia hosts delenda est."
posted by zombieflanders at 1:52 PM on January 31, 2018 [5 favorites]


> Orcas are fucking arachnids, come on people.

All kidding aside, and just as weird, Orcas are even-toed ungulates. They also belong to the aptly named clade of Whippomorpha (aptly because it also contains the Whippopotamus)
posted by kleinsteradikaleminderheit at 1:59 PM on January 31, 2018 [8 favorites]


Note: To retain faith in humanity, do not google "Whippopotamus"
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 2:25 PM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]


I already have no faith in humanity, and I'm still not gonna google that!
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:33 PM on January 31, 2018


Oh for fucking... what?!? I had no idea that was a thing. Just an innocent pun people! Nothing to see here.

Seriously. Do not google that.

Incindentally... are whippits still a thing?

posted by kleinsteradikaleminderheit at 4:37 PM on January 31, 2018


Einstein.
posted by Splunge at 4:52 PM on January 31, 2018


Orca and other cetaceans probably think our symbolic vocal language is cute and a little backwards, considering they probably speak to each other in three dimensional pictures and being able to play back ultrasound echolocation scans. Instead of having to describe what they saw they can just replay it as an acoustic image.

Seriously, can you imagine being able to see, think and speak in ultrasound imaging in addition to optical sight?

While I haven't met any orca up close in the wild, I've met a couple of grey whales and not a few dolphins. The overwhelming feeling I get from cetaceans is "You poor, slow, dumb bastard. What are you doing out of the water?"
posted by loquacious at 7:11 PM on January 31, 2018 [3 favorites]


Fine I'll be the jerk who says the imitations are not great. They're only copying the pitch anyway.

Listen Orca, take some voice lessons and audition again in a couple of years.
posted by tirutiru at 12:34 AM on February 1, 2018 [2 favorites]


I wonder how the orca would pronounce thttpd
posted by farlukar at 5:08 AM on February 1, 2018


"I love you." Of course, the Beastie Boys knew this.
posted by funkiwan at 7:38 AM on February 1, 2018


Orcas are no joke. Their lifespan is like human's (children stay with the parents until their teens or longer), and they basically have their own culture. It's so sad that some are so endangered.
posted by salvia at 1:57 PM on February 1, 2018 [1 favorite]


Incindentally... are whippits still a thing?

I am told... yes.
posted by flaterik at 8:28 PM on February 1, 2018


I believe the saying goes all dolphins are whales but not all whales are dolphins.
posted by danapiper at 4:30 AM on February 2, 2018


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