So, it’s something we’ve all wondered at some point or another; what are animals thinking, and can they talk to each other, or more importantly can our pets understand us? In this episode we are talking about language and how humans came to have such complicated ways of communicating. Are we the only ones who are able to talk to each other and pass information between individuals without having to physically demonstrate everything? You’ll have to listen on to find out. As usual our tangents have also reached new heights probably getting to their most… interesting in this episode with the standard unit for deer height being set as bananas of all things.

Find us over on Twitter and Instagram @3_Zoologists to ask us questions or just tell us what you think. And if you want to learn more about anything we talk about in this episode, check out the references below for more information:

- Fitch, W. T. (2005). The evolution of language: a comparative review. Biology and Philosophy, 20(2-3), 193–203.

- Lieberman P. Primer: Acoustics and Physiology of Human Speech (the-scientist.com/infographics/primer--acoustics-and-physiology-of-human-speech-64383)

- Hayes K., Hayes C., (1952). "Imitation in a home-raised chimpanzee". Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 45, 450–459.

- Seyfarth R., 1980. Vervet monkey alarm calls: Semantic communication in a free-ranging primate. Animal Behaviour. 28(4), 1070-1094.

- How language began | Dan Everett | TEDxSanFrancisco (youtube.com/watch?v=qFxg5vkaPgk)

- Animals and Human Communication — David Adger / Serious Science (youtube.com/watch?v=9b50ChtpfUU)

- Do animals have language? - Michele Bishop (youtube.com/watch?v=_1FY5kL_zXU)