Slashdot Mirror
Captive Beluga Was Able To Mimic Speech
ananyo writes "'Who told me to get out?' asked a diver, surfacing from a tank in which a whale named NOC lived. The beluga's caretakers had heard what sounded like garbled phrases emanating from the enclosure before, and it suddenly dawned on them that the whale might be imitating the voices of his human handlers. The outbursts began in 1984 and lasted for about four years, until NOC hit sexual maturity. NOC likely learned to imitate humans by listening to them speak underwater and on the surface. The whale's human-like calls are several octaves lower than normal whale calls, a similar pitch to human speech. Researchers trained NOC to 'speak' on command, and determined that he makes the sounds by increasing the pressure of the air that courses through his nasal cavities. They think that he then modified the sounds by manipulating the shape of his phonic lips, small vibrating structures that sit above each nasal cavity. A recording of NOC's speech is embedded in the story. He sounds remarkably like a kazoo."
"So long, and thanks for all the fish."
Whoever taught you Eskimo kisses played a mean joke.
<xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
Across many species the ability to mimic other creatures is commonplace. In this case, the notion that the beluga was "trained" makes it difficult to assess whether there was actual comprehension of the meaning and/or purpose of the mimicked sound(s). This makes the story nothing more than a parallel to circus-trained animal stories.
Considering NOC (the beluga) provided the stimulus and the human diver got out of the tank, I agree with you.
NOC has those divers trained like circus animals. I doubt they comprehend the beluga's pleasure at seeing them perform.
The outbursts began in 1984 and lasted about four years, until NOC hit sexual maturity.
If only people were like that: all talk until they hit sexual maturity and suddenly realize they don't know anything. People just keep on talking, as evidenced by the slashdot crowd, who... Oh... wait. This explains so much...
We have a whale, another species on this planet, use human speech and the first thing he says is, essentially, "Get off my damn lawn, kid."
How come Slashdot never gets Slashdotted?
While the Beluga are aquatic, probably smarter, and definitely cuter than you, they are unlikely to replace you in the hearts of you pirate brethren.
Mainly because at 5.5 meters (18 feet) long and at 1,600 kg (3,500 pounds), they do not fit on the shoulder of your average pirate.
However, it is likely that the elder pirate gods, in their watery realm, prefer Beluga companions over parrots
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
anyone remember SeaQuest DSV? ;)
Thanks, I was in the process of repurposing those neurons, now I have to start all over again.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.