Job Discussion Forums

[Anda]

It's a foreigner, It speaks English, it's probally got a green card by now so are our jobs at risk?

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Alex the Parrot: Bird Brain No More

We have long known that parrots can talk, but did you realize that they can actually speak! The most famous one of all is called Alex, he owes his celebrity status to a researcher at the University of Arizona, who has also become his surrogate parent.

Alex speaks and he knows exactly what he means. In other words, he doesn�t settle for automatic mimicry of the human tongue. This parrot understands that words have a meaning, and that they should be used to express wants needs and desires. When Alex tells Irene Pepperberg "come here", he actually expects his owner to come running to his side. "Birds such as these have the emotional and social capacity of a three year old child", states the American scientist.

Of African origin, this winged genius can count up to six, can name seven colors and manages to identify about fifty objects. The most surprising fact is that he's never mistaken and never utters a number instead of a color. Alex understands what he says and this is what brings him closer to human intelligence. He does not merely react to external stimuli (parrot fashion) but really analyses thought through assessment and judgment. If you were to ask him : 'Do you wish to return in your cage?', he will matter-of-factly answer, 'I want to return in my cage'

When Irene Pepperberg shows her protege two keys, one red the other green, and asks him what the difference between the two is, Alex immediately responds "the colour!". Skeptics consider this phenomenon a mere carnival attraction, but Pepperberg and other animal behaviour scientists are determined to pierce the mystery of animal intelligence.

Alex is not alone now. 24 years old, the winged prodigy has now become a mentor for other parrots in training. This is his opportunity to improve his skills.

Perhaps it is time that we re-thought some of our favourite old expressions; otherwise Alex and his peers may soon be calling us 'bird brain'.

[william wallace]

Well,sounds like I'd give him a band 4 in IELTS,but I'd like to see his writing first.

[lychee]

When I was a child, we had a parrot that lived in a shed next to the toilet.
Every time you would go to the toilet he would ask "what are you doing Pal?"
Our stock answer was to tell him to mind his own business. But as many times that he heard this, he never repeated it.

He never asked this question at any other time.

My dog is bi-lingual, he understands words that are not directed at him but in casual conversation and responds.

The other day I was whistlng to him to come to me and a friendly passer by, told me in Chinese he doesn't understand you.
It is a whistle, the whistle crosses all language barriers.

We laughed and he went on his way

[Anda]

Alex tried writing but had to give it up but has since started using a key board to tap in letters on a multi media classroom setup William.

He responded to you pun that if it is okay for modern youth to use math calculators then it is okay for him to use a multi media setup!

I once made friends with a feral cat in Australia that was soon making it clear to me that food straight out of a fridge was not on, and that I should warm it up first. Alex thinks that feral cats make bad friends however!

[lychee]

The feral cat ,by no fault of its own, is a great danger to the native wildlife in Australia.
I hope you jammed the little buggger's head in the door as he was looking for food.

[Babala]

How is this job related and what on earth does it have to do with China.

Anda, is it necessary to post EVERY story you read in the newspaper on this forum

[Brian Caulfield]

Babala this is job related as William pointed out the parrot is a band 4 on IELTS.