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Cows Moo With Regional Accents
In a major breakthrough in bovine linguistic research, experts have confirmed that cows moo with accents distinct to their herd, the BBC reports.
Haines, L. (2006, August 23). Cows have regional accents, experts confirm. The Register® – Biting the hand that feeds IT. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.theregister.com/2006/08/23/cows_have_accents/
John Wells, professor of Phonetics at the University of London, examined West Country farmers’ claims that their beasts were mooing with a local twang.
Lloyd Green of Glastonbury said: “I spend a lot of time with my ones and they definitely moo with a Somerset drawl. I’ve spoken to the other farmers in the West Country group and they have noticed a similar development in their own herds. It works the same as with dogs – the closer a farmer’s bond is with his animals, the easier it is for them to pick up his accent.”
Professor Wells confirmed Green’s observations, explaining: “This phenomenon is well attested in birds. You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country. In small populations such as herds you would encounter identifiable dialectical variations which are most affected by the immediate peer group.”
