Stella the Talking Dog
go on: to happen or occur
Christina Hunger, a speech pathologist, taught her dog, Stella, to “talk.” Christina made a special soundboard for her dog. This soundboard has buttons that play words. Stella presses the buttons to say what she wants.
Christina started teaching Stella when she was a puppy. She used methods from her work with children who have speech difficulties. Over time, Stella learned 48 words. She knows nouns such as food, toy, bed, and outside. She also knows verbs like go, play, and eat.
Some would say that Stella doesn’t really understand words. She is just conditioned to get a reward when she presses a button. Christina insists there is something deeper going on. She doesn’t just respond to single words. She can put them together in short sentences such as “Want play outside now” and “Need help open door.”
Is this really language? Watch the videos below and you be the judge.
Sample sentences
1. What is going on in the park? There are so many people gathered there.
2. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors in Washington DC.
3. Can you explain what is going on with the weather? It’s so unpredictable lately.
Read More:
Christina Hunger Taught Her Dog to Talk, Now She Wants to Help You Start a Chat with Your Pet