A study published in the journal Science indicates that a subset of dogs possesses the ability to learn new object names by merely overhearing human conversations. This learning can occur even when the object is initially out of sight, provided social cues, such as a human looking at the object's hidden location, are present.
Research Findings
Cognitive scientist Shany Dror, from Eötvös Loránd University and the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, stated that these findings suggest dogs utilize social communication and cues to understand human discourse. Dror proposes that the capacity for social information processing may have preceded language development in humans, with language subsequently building upon these social abilities.
Object-Specific Vocabulary
Most dogs typically respond to commands in conjunction with tone or behavioral patterns, rather than distinguishing between specific object labels (e.g., differentiating 'ball' from 'frisbee'). However, a small proportion of dogs can acquire such specific object-label differentiation.
Researchers are actively identifying dogs capable of learning the names of five or more objects. While many participants are working breeds, such as Border Collies, the group also includes other breeds and mixed breeds. Owners frequently report that their dogs acquire toy names through informal play rather than explicit training.
Experimental Methodology
Two experiments were conducted:
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Experiment 1 (Visible Toy): Dogs observed two individuals interacting, one showing the other a new toy and embedding its name within sentences (e.g., 'This is your armadillo.'). The dogs, even without direct address, subsequently demonstrated the ability to retrieve the new toy from a collection upon request. Performance during retrieval was consistently high.
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Experiment 2 (Hidden Toy): The experiment was modified to introduce a delay between the dog seeing a new toy and hearing its name. Dogs were shown an unfamiliar toy, which was then placed out of sight in a bucket. The owner then discussed the toy, mentioning its name while glancing at the bucket. Dogs in this condition still learned the toy's name and retrieved it when asked, indicating flexibility in their learning mechanisms.
Context and Broader Implications
Rochelle Newman, a language scientist at the University of Maryland, noted that a control study involving typical pet dogs did not yield comparable results. Newman also observed that the experimental conversations, while not directed at the dog, were similar in nature to speech commonly directed at dogs. Despite these considerations, Newman recognized the notable learning ability demonstrated by the study's subjects.
Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the understanding of how human language abilities evolved.