文章大意:这是一篇说明文。很多人无法抗拒用人类语言定义的术语来解读狗的面部表情,于是两只狗的主人尝试通过训练自己的狗Stella和Bunny来训练狗说话,作者对此并不认同,介绍了狗进行交流的一些方式并给狗主人提出建议。
Lots of humans cannot resist interpreting dogs’ faces in the terms defined by human languages. A puppy licking your cheek enthusiastically is giving a “kiss”. If dogs could speak like their owners, many humans want to know, what would their dogs have to say?
Into the market for answers step Christina Hunger, author of the book How Stella Learned to Talk, and Alexis Devine, the owner of Bunny, a TikTok star with over 6.3m followers. After careful training, both Stella and Bunny can paw a series of buttons that make a recorded voice speak one of several dozen programmed words. Both Ms. Devine and Ms. Hunger claim that their dogs are using language.
Human linguists tend to be skeptical of “talking” animals. To understand why, consider Noam Chomsky’s critical review of “Verbal Behavior” by B.F. Skinner, a pioneer in behavioral psychology. Skinner described human language acquisition as he did other learned behaviors: the strengthening of a response after conditioning with a stimulus. If saying “food” gets you food, you’re more likely to say it.
Skinner wrote that “if we are shown a prized work of art and shout ‘Beautiful!’, the speed and energy of the response will have an effect on the owner.” Mr. Chomsky noted that this reasoning might lead people “to cry out ‘Beautiful’ in a loud voice, repeatedly and with no delay”. Real humans, by contrast, might in fact show appreciation through a long moment of silence, and then barely whispered praise.
Ms. Hunger came up with her button system after working with children who were not developing language normally and has helped many youngsters express themselves better (often with tablet computers). But some dog experts dislike the practice of forcing word-based communication onto dogs. By focusing on a basic kind of language that seems human, it ignores dogs’ abilities to express themselves in their own ways.
Dogs are fond of sniffing each other, who are using sensitive noses to exchange information, about age, health and other things. Dogs urinate frequently not, as once assumed, primarily to claim territory, but to leave similar information for others.
Posture (姿势), too, conveys masses of information between dogs; eyes, ears and teeth contribute to a range of messages transmitted between them. Finally, their own vocalizations, though hardly of the words-and-syntax type that make up human language, are complicated.
Scientists have yet to report on the “taking” abilities of dogs like Stella and Bunny. In the meantime, ordinary owners can have a go at training their dogs with the advice Ms. Hunger offers. Or they can try another approach: buy one of the many good books on understanding how dogs naturally communicate, and spend the time they might invest in programming buttons on getting to know their pets instead. Even the best-trained dog is a poor conversationalist in human terms-but a brilliant one on their own.
26. Why does the author mention Stella and Bunny?
A.To prove an assumption. | B.To put forward a theory. |
C.To settle an argument. | D.To present an attempt. |
27. Which statement is TRUE according to the author?
A.Chomsky further developed behavioral psychology. |
B.Devine’s and Hunger’s practices agree with Skinner’s theory. |
C.Language is acquired by strengthening a conditioned response. |
D.After Hunger created her button system, she has helped children with language problems |
28. According to the author, those who try to prove dogs’ language ability ______.
A.ignore dogs’ psychological needs |
B.fail to accept what makes a dog a dog |
C.suggest a new way to get to know dogs |
D.believe dogs have their own language system |
29. What message does the author convey to dog owners?
A.A dog deserves more care and company. |
B.Training can help a dog learn human language. |
C.improving their understanding of pets is crucial. |
D.Research on animal behavior still has a long way to go. |