Language preference in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

Studies have shown that both cotton-top tamarins as well as rats can discriminate between two languages based on rhythmic cues. This is similar to the capabilities of young infants, who also rely on rhythmic cues to differentiate between languages. However, the animals in these studies did not have...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal cognition 2023-03, Vol.26 (2), p.451-463
Main Authors: Mallikarjun, Amritha, Shroads, Emily, Newman, Rochelle S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cognition
Cotton
Cues
Discrimination
Dogs
Domestic animals
English language
Hearing
Home environment
Humans
Language
Languages
Life Sciences
Linguistics
Original Paper
Preferences
Psychology Research
Rats
Rhythms
Speech
Zoology
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Summary:Studies have shown that both cotton-top tamarins as well as rats can discriminate between two languages based on rhythmic cues. This is similar to the capabilities of young infants, who also rely on rhythmic cues to differentiate between languages. However, the animals in these studies did not have long-term language exposure, so these studies did not specifically assess the role of language experience. In this study, we used companion dogs, who have prolonged exposure to human language in their home environment. These dogs came from homes where either English or Spanish was primarily spoken. The dogs were then presented with speech in English and in Spanish in a Headturn Preference Procedure paradigm to examine their language discrimination abilities as well as their language preferences. Dogs successfully discriminated between the two languages. In addition, dogs showed a novelty effect with their language preference such that Spanish-hearing dogs listened longer to English, and English-hearing dogs listened longer to Spanish. It is unclear what particular cue dogs are utilizing to discriminate between the two languages; future studies should explore dogs’ utilization of phonological and rhythmic cues for language discrimination.
ISSN:1435-9448
1435-9456
DOI:10.1007/s10071-022-01683-9