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fandomhigh2006-10-01 11:02 pm
spit-spot.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2006-10-01 11:02 pm
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Cross Species Communications - Monday 10/02 - Birds
Mary stands before the class as the students file in.
"Good afternoon children, I trust you have all had a chance to review the vocabulary lists youhandwavy received and that you didn't give my TA much in the way of difficulty while I was gone."
She looked around the classroom with an expression that implied this better be the case.
"Today, as you know, we are discussing the language of birds." Mary said as she passed out a packet with information about language of birds.
"In Kabbalah, Renaissance magic, and alchemy, the language of the birds was considered a secret and perfect language, the key to perfect knowledge, sometimes also called the langue verte, or green language. The concept is also known from many folk tales (including Welsh, Russian, German, Estonian, Greek), where usually the protagonist is granted the gift of understanding the language of the birds either by some magical transformation, or as a reward for some good deed by the king of birds. The birds then inform or warn the hero about some danger or hidden treasure... That would be where we get the phrase, 'A little birdy told me.'"
"Today a little birdy will be answering your questions in the language of the Starling."
Mary moved aside and reveled a small bird to be perched on the podium. The starling cocks his head, taking in the class, and then opens his beak. The sound that results is strangely like a doorbell.
"Starlings have diverse and complex vocalizations, and have been known to imbed sounds from their surroundings into their own calls, including car alarms, and human speech patterns. The birds can recognize particular individuals by their calls." Mary explaned. "parrots are the best known for being able to mimic human speech, and studies with the African Grey Parrot have shown that some birds are able to associate human words with their meanings and form simple sentences."
The Starling made a noise that sounded something like a cel phone ringing.
Mary glanced at the bird.
"Good luck."
[[ooc:Please wait for OCD OPEN! Sorry about there not being a "you mysteriously get a packet" post. But I'm done moving! ... Now I just need to unpack. *facewall*]]
"Good afternoon children, I trust you have all had a chance to review the vocabulary lists you
She looked around the classroom with an expression that implied this better be the case.
"Today, as you know, we are discussing the language of birds." Mary said as she passed out a packet with information about language of birds.
"In Kabbalah, Renaissance magic, and alchemy, the language of the birds was considered a secret and perfect language, the key to perfect knowledge, sometimes also called the langue verte, or green language. The concept is also known from many folk tales (including Welsh, Russian, German, Estonian, Greek), where usually the protagonist is granted the gift of understanding the language of the birds either by some magical transformation, or as a reward for some good deed by the king of birds. The birds then inform or warn the hero about some danger or hidden treasure... That would be where we get the phrase, 'A little birdy told me.'"
"Today a little birdy will be answering your questions in the language of the Starling."
Mary moved aside and reveled a small bird to be perched on the podium. The starling cocks his head, taking in the class, and then opens his beak. The sound that results is strangely like a doorbell.
"Starlings have diverse and complex vocalizations, and have been known to imbed sounds from their surroundings into their own calls, including car alarms, and human speech patterns. The birds can recognize particular individuals by their calls." Mary explaned. "parrots are the best known for being able to mimic human speech, and studies with the African Grey Parrot have shown that some birds are able to associate human words with their meanings and form simple sentences."
The Starling made a noise that sounded something like a cel phone ringing.
Mary glanced at the bird.
"Good luck."
[[ooc:
Re: TALK TO STARLING
And he repeated. //Greetings!//
Only a bit slower. So she could try again.
Re: TALK TO STARLING
Molly repeated the word again, much more successfully this time. Whether any starling on the street would understand her was still in question, but it was better than her first attempt. She grinned at the Starling.
Re: TALK TO STARLING
*doorbell noise*
Re: TALK TO STARLING
Re: TALK TO STARLING
//Mary Poppins.//
He did his best to point to himself with his wing and made a doorbell noise.
Re: TALK TO STARLING
She studied the sheet again for a moment before trying out a response. Just in case she pronounced it badly, which she did, she repeated it in English. "Nice to meet you... Doorbell? Ding Dong?" She then tried to mimic the sound the Starling had made as closely as possible. "My name is Molly."
Re: TALK TO STARLING