Esse cachorro está aprendendo a conversar com humanos usando palavras

Você também acredita que os cachorros conseguem entender tudinho o que os humanos falam? Apesar de esse entendimento estar muito mais ligado a entonação vocal que outra coisa, uma estudiosa americana de patologias ligadas à fala está ensinando sua cachorrinha a conversar usando palavras.

Christina Hunger, que mora atualmente em San Diego, na Califórnia, criou um teclado especial que relaciona estímulos visuais e sonoros. À princípio, ela o utilizava apenas com crianças de aproximadamente dois anos que apresentavam dificuldade em se comunicar. Christina, contudo, resolveu testar o experimento com sua cadelinha Stella, hoje com um ano e meio de idade.

O teste começou quando Stella era apenas um filhote e passou a aprender a usar o teclado, que hoje tem 29 palavras. Foi todo um processo. Christina ia relacionando sensações e atividades aos sons produzidos pelas palavras quando a cachorra apertava os botões. “Eu estou em constante choque e espanto”, revelou em entrevista a People.

A evolução recente mais impressionante foi quando Stella, depois de ficar muito tempo tristonha, caminhou até o teclado e apertou na sequência as palavras “quero”, “Jake” e “venha”. Jake é o marido da especialista e, quando ele chegou em casa do trabalho, Stella voltou ao teclado e apertou o botão “feliz”, sinalizando que estava contente com o retorno do papai. Dá pra acreditar?!

Até o momento, Stella sabe fazer combinações de até cinco palavras para criar frases com sentido. Hunger, contudo, acredita que a cadela pode aprender muito mais!

Veja algumas imagens do projeto “Hunger For Words”:

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Jake and I have been modeling the words “look” and “all done” a lot over the past few days, and it has paid off! Stella used both words on her own this morning. After saying “look outside” and looking around the apartment, Stella told us she was “all done” and ready for the “park outside.” It’s truly amazing that Stella has the power to tell us when she’s finished with an activity and ready for something else 💫 • • • • • • #hunger4words #talkingdog #speechtherapy #AAC #slp #corewords #ashaigers #SLPeeps #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #dogs #talkingdogs #animalpsychology #doglover #sandiegodog #sandiegodogs #catahoula #blueheeler #smartdog #dogcommunication #mydogtalks #netflixdogstory #interspeciescommunication

A post shared by Christina Hunger, MA, CCC-SLP (@hunger4words) on Aug 13, 2019 at 8:38am PDT

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Stella uses language differently when she’s in a heightened state versus when she’s calm! • Today when she heard some noises outside and wanted to go investigate, I told her we were staying inside. • Stella responded by saying, “Look” 9 TIMES IN A ROW, then “Come outside.” She was clearly in a more frantic state, and her language use matched that. We all sound differently than normal when we’re in distress, Stella included! • I’m impressed that Stella is communicating with language during her more heightened states, not just when she’s calm and in a quiet space. This shows me that words are becoming more automatic for her to use. It’s similar to when a toddler starts using language to express himself during times of frustration instead of only crying. That happens when it’s easy for the toddler to say words, not when he’s still learning and it takes a lot of focus to talk 🧠🗣 • • • • • #hunger4words #stellathetalkingdog #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #AAC #ashaigers #slp #corewords #SLPeeps #slp2be #earlyintervention #languagedevelopment #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #doglife #dogs #guarddog #animalpsychology #doglover #dogvideos #sandiegodog #catahoula #blueheeler #smartdog #dogcommunication #mydogtalks #animalcommunication #interspeciescommunication #loveanimals

A post shared by Christina Hunger, MA, CCC-SLP (@hunger4words) on Nov 1, 2019 at 1:14pm PDT

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Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: I just had a conversation with my talking dog about going to get an açaí bowl 😂 • Watch above to see how well Stella is doing with remembering what I said, taking turns talking, and responding appropriately! • • • • • #hunger4words #stellathetalkingdog #slpsofinstagram #speechtherapy #AAC #slp #corewords #SLPeeps #slp2be #aacawarenessmonth #earlyintervention #languagedevelopment #dogsofinstagram #dogmom #doglife #dogs #animalpsychology #doglover #dogvideos #sandiegodog #catahoula #blueheeler #smartdog #dogcommunication #mydogtalks #animalcommunication #interspeciescommunication #loveanimals

A post shared by Christina Hunger, MA, CCC-SLP (@hunger4words) on Oct 14, 2019 at 3:09pm PDT