Animal uses human speech — Mythoi

Motif

Animal uses human speech.

Animals. · Animals with human traits. · Speaking animals. · view the constellation · filed as B211

Filed across the traditions

Breton Sébillot Incidents s. v. "animaux"
French Canadian Barbeau JAFL XXIX 13
Hindu Tawney II 599
India *Thompson-Balys
Chinese Eberhard FFC CXX 40 No. 28. See also references given under B200.
general *Chauvin VIII 126 No. 113
general *BP I 331. Irish myth: Cross

Within the index

Filed under Speaking animals.

8 finer motifs beneath it

Animals speak, praising God, on the night of Christ's Nativity Speaking beasts – domestic Speaking beast – wild Speaking bird Speaking insects Speaking fish Speaking reptile Speaking amphibia

Filed beside it

Person frightened by animals successively replying to his remarks. Example: Man riding horse and followed by dog tells horse to jump over a hole. Horse says, "I will not." Man turns to dog and says, "Isn't that strange – a horse talking!" The dog says, "Yes, isn't it." Often the man runs, meeting other animals which answer him, until he falls exhausted Talking animal or object refuses to talk on demand. Discoverer is unable to prove his claims: is beaten Formerly animals and man spoke the same language. God took the power of speech from the animals because men refused to kill speaking beasts Animal understands human speech Animal whistles (sings, etc.) Animal languages. The various animals have languages of their own. (Cf. B251.1.2.) Knowledge of animal languages. Person understands them Animal language learned

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