Animals do not speak because their vocal anatomy does not allow them to produce the sounds of human language. In addition, oral language is a specific characteristic of the human species, linked to its evolution and particular cognitive development.
Speaking is not just about vocal cords; there is a whole biological machinery behind it. In animals, certain essential anatomical mechanisms are not developed enough to allow for spoken language similar to ours. For example, humans have a larynx located lower, which leaves a lot of space in the throat to produce all the complex sounds that make up words. Animals (dogs, cats, monkeys...) have a more limited vocal apparatus, which greatly restricts the range of possible sounds. Furthermore, to create understandable words, one must precisely control their breathing, vocal cords, tongue, and lips, which requires very advanced neurological capabilities that many animals simply do not possess. The animal brain generally lacks the areas or connections necessary to finely coordinate these simultaneous movements, an essential element for speech.
Our brain has a particular area called the Broca's area, responsible for language production, and another called the Wernicke's area, dedicated to its comprehension. These regions are significantly more developed in humans than in animals, allowing for the precise structuring of complex sentences or even the expression of abstract ideas. Additionally, there is the significant development of the prefrontal cortex, the small area at the front of our brain that enables planning, thinking about concepts, or imagining possible scenarios—in short, it allows humans to easily juggle abstract and symbolic thoughts, which are crucial for speaking. Animals, even the most intelligent ones, do not have this level of brain sophistication, which is precisely what greatly limits their ability to process and produce spoken language as we do naturally.
In most animals, the larynx (an essential organ for sound production in humans) is not positioned low enough in the throat. As a result, they cannot produce the wide range of sounds necessary for speech. The same goes for the tongue, lips, and palate: these parts are often not flexible or precise enough to clearly articulate complex syllables. In monkeys, for example, their mouth and throat are simply not shaped to talk like humans. For them, there's nothing to be done, even with all their good intentions and a bit of training. Other animals, like dolphins or birds, have fairly advanced vocal systems but are very different from ours: birds lack vocal cords and have a syrinx, which does not function at all like our human larynx. As a result, they sing beautifully but do not discuss the latest soccer match.
Language in humans did not evolve overnight. It is the result of a very long evolutionary process related to our needs for cooperation and group living. Our ancestors had an interest in communicating effectively for hunting, social organization, or sharing practical information. This daily necessity favored beneficial genetic mutations: a brain capable of processing information quickly, better coordination between thoughts and sounds produced by our vocal cords, and an ability to learn complex communication systems at a very young age. In animals, evolution has focused on other priorities — survival, reproduction, or territorial defense — without leading to a structured language similar to ours. Simply put, we did not follow the same path.
The ability to speak and understand a complex vocal language may have been a key factor that allowed Homo sapiens to quickly transmit knowledge, thus contributing to the survival and evolutionary success of our species.
Although dogs do not speak, they can understand and distinguish many human words; some highly trained dogs can even identify several hundred different words!
In higher primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas, communication through signs has enabled them to converse with humans using several hundred different signs; however, their vocal anatomy still does not allow them to form human words.
Parrots do not merely repeat sounds mechanically: certain species, such as the African grey parrot, can learn to associate words with their meanings and demonstrate impressive cognitive abilities.
Parrots have a syrinx, a very flexible vocal organ that allows them to faithfully reproduce certain human sounds. However, these imitations are generally more a matter of sound mimicry than of true linguistic understanding.
There are no precise indications to conclude that animals experience frustration solely due to their inability to speak. Their communication naturally develops through other means suited to their species: vocalizations, gestures, or specific behaviors.
Some animals, such as dogs or parrots, can understand words or simple commands through learning, but they do not grasp the full complexity of human language because they lack the same cognitive abilities and brain structures specific to human language.
Despite various experiences showing that some animals can learn to recognize words or even compose simple sentences through signs or symbols, no experiment to date has proven that animals can naturally or fully adopt a developed human language due to biological and cognitive limitations.
Some animal species, such as dolphins, elephants, or monkeys, use very sophisticated communication systems. However, these systems do not possess all the essential characteristics of human language, such as complex syntax and the ability to talk about abstract or imaginary elements.
0% of respondents passed this quiz completely!
Question 1/5
