History Main / SlidingScaleOfAnimalCommunication

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': Most of the Pokémon are Level 1, but Meowth of the Team Rocket trio fits this level. He used to be a normal street Meowth but he taught himself to talk to humans. As a result, he's often treated on par with humans and often [[DenialOfAnimality forgets that he's a Meowth]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'': Most of the animals are Level 1 (or 3 in the case of the storks, elephants, and crows), but Timothy Mouse can talk to humans.

* ''Film/{{Underdog}}'', although all the other dogs in the movie are Level 1.

* The animals in ''Film/{{Zookeeper}}''.

* '''Level 5:''' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (e.g. Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 6:''' An animal who can communicate intelligently with humans.

''WesternAnimation/TopCat'': The cats can talk to the humans. The other animals (such as the anteater) are Level 1 though.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Dumbo}}'': Most of the animals are Level 1, but Timothy Mouse can talk to humans.

* Brian the Dog from ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Most of the Pokemon are Level 1, but Meowth of the Team Rocket trio fits this level. He used to be a normal street Meowth but he taught himself to talk to humans. As a result, he's often treated on par with humans and often [[DenialOfAnimality forgets that he's a Meowth]].

* Most of the animal characters in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', except for Dragon who is Level 1.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Most of the Pokemon are Level 1, but Meowth of the Team Rocket trio fits this level. He used to be a normal street Meowth but he taught himself to talk to humans. As a result, he's often treated on par with humans and often [[FurryDenial forgets that he's a Meowth]].

** Played straight in the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTales'' and ''WesernAnimation/TheTomAndJerryShow'', however.

Related to FurryConfusion, WorldOfFunnyAnimals, and LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy. Supertrope of SpeaksFluentAnimal, which is Level 5, and AnimalTalk, which is Level 4. Related to SpeechImpairedAnimal, TalkingAnimal, and SlidingScaleOfAnthropomorphism.

!!!Level 1: Animals can laugh or scream but not talk:

* ''Franchise/TomAndJerry:
** ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'': Zig-zagged. Most of the time, they're completely speechless outside of laughing, screaming, and the occasional gulp, but in some episodes Tom or Jerry has a line or two.
** Played straight in the ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTales'' and ''WesernAnimation/TheTomAndJerryShow'', however.

!!!Level 5: An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment:

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* ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDoo'' is the TropeCodifier.
* ''WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck'' is a FunnyAnimal like all the other characters, but is hard to understand.

* '''Level 5:'' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (e.g. Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 1: VentriloquistAnimal''' Animals have language, but it is not sound-based. Their sounds will be depicted as separate from their speech.

* '''Level 4: AnimalTalk''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). All (or almost all) animals understand each other regardless of species. If {{Language Barrier}}s among animals exist, they will be regional and cultural rather than based on species. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 5: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (e.g. Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

!!!Level 1: Animals can talk, but not to people:

Examples go in AnimalTalk, not here.

!!!Level 2: An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment:

!!!Level 3: An animal who can communicate intelligently with humans:

* '''Level 5: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (i.e Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 0:''' Humans are the only animals that can talk. Anthropomorphic animals can use simple hand gestures to communicate (i.e thumbs up, wave goodbye), but the only way people and animals can talk to each other is if some kind of [[UniversalTranslator translation]] [[TranslatorCollar device]] is used. Note that this tends to be the [[TruthInTelevision general consensus]] of RealLife; please do not list any examples of this type.

* '''Level 1:''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). However, only members of the same or similar species can understand each other's particular "language", intraspecies talk instead of the usual [[AnimalTalk interspecies kind]]. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 2:''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Interspecies communication exists, but only between two types of animals. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 3: AnimalTalk''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). All (or almost all) animals understand each other regardless of species. If {{Language Barrier}}s among animals exist, they will be regional and cultural rather than based on species. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 4: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (i.e Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 5:''' An animal who can communicate intelligently with humans.

* '''Level 1:''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). Howver, only members of the same or similar species can understand each other's particular "language", intraspecies talk instead of the usual [[AnimalTalk interspecies kind]]. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 3: AnimalTalk''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). All animals understand each other regardless of species. If {{Language Barrier}}s among animals exist, they will be regional and cultural rather than based on species. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 2: AnimalTalk''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). All animals understand each other regardless of species. If {{Language Barrier}}s among animals exist, they will be regional and cultural rather than based on species. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 3: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (i.e Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 4:''' An animal who can communicate intelligently with humans.

* '''Level 1: AnimalTalk''' Animals use their noises to communicate with each other. This can be shown by putting subtitles over the animal noises, [[TranslationConvention showing the animals speak English and showing them make realistic animal noises whenever the perspective switches to a human character]], or simply showing animals using the noises in a way they never would in RealLife (i.e a group of dogs are sitting in a circle and one of them is barking at the rest of the group). Sometimes the animals can understand human language. Sometimes, not all species can talk in this manner, ([[NoCartoonFish fish]] and [[PredatorsAreMean evil predators]] being the most common examples). Sometimes, only members of the same or similar species can understand each other's particular "language", intraspecies Animal Talk instead of the usual interspecies kind. Sometimes there will be a person who SpeaksFluentAnimal to translate. Otherwise, the only way they can be understood by people is with a translation device. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 2: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' An animal who can talk to humans, but not without a heavy speech impediment (i.e Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 3:''' An animal who can communicate intelligently with humans.

* Most of the animals in ''WesternAnimals/SouthPark'' are Level 1, but some episodes feature animals that can talk to humans.

* While most of the animals ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} are Level 1, Iago the Parrot can talk to humans.

* The rabbits in ''WesternAnimation/{{Hop}}.

* In an odd case, Snoopy from ''ComicStrip/Peanuts'' is an anthro dog who doesn't talk. Despite this, he's certainly one of the most verbose and eloquent of the characters, verbalizing his thoughts via a typewriter. His pal Woodstock might surpass him except that we don't know what Woodstock says exactly. Though despite said eloquence, he can't write stories to save his life.