History Main / SlidingScaleOfAnimalCommunication

* '''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 making 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.

* The animals in ''WesternAnimation/{{Barnyard}}'' can communicate with humans, but choose not to.

* Most of the animal characters in ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'', except for Dragon who is Level 1.
* ''Film/{{Paulie}}'' the [[PollyWantsAMicrophone Parrot]].

* Most of the animals in ''Literature/CharlottesWeb'' are Level 1, but Charlotte the Spider can communicate with humans by writing words in her web.

* The mice and rats in ''Literature/TheTaleOfDesperaux''.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' has zoo gorillas that are fluent in sign language.

* '''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 making 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. Again, 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.

* ''Film/{{Paulie}}'' the [[PollyWantAMicrophone Parrot]].

* '''Level 3: Animals can use human speech or write''': An animal who can communicate intelligently with humans.

!!!Level 2: One Person or Some People Can Understand AnimalTalk, A.K.A., SpeaksFluentAnimal:

Examples go in SpeaksFluentAnimal, not here.

!!!Level 3: Animals can talk to humans, but not without heavy speech impediments:

!!!Level 4: One animal speaks fluent human:

*
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!!!Level 5: One Person or Some People Can Understand AnimalTalk, A.K.A., SpeaksFluentAnimal:

Examples go in SpeaksFluentAnimal, not here.
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!!!Level 6: Animals Can Talk And Be Understood By People, but They Hide The Ability:

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Film]]
* The animals in ''Film/{{Zookeeper}}''.

* Most of ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} falls under AnimalTalk, but one stand alone storybook has this. All animals can talk (except Odie), but keep up a {{Masquerade}} for unknown reasons. They break it to warn their owners about a tornado that they can sense.
* On the Literature/{{Discworld}}, some of the animals can talk to humans due to high magic exposure, but [[WeirdnessCensor you didn't hear it from Gaspode.]] [[JediMindTrick (Who is a good dog and would like a bone.)]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]
* The nearly extinct South American sand spiders from ''Series/LivingSingle''.
* Series/MisterEd talks only to his owner, Wilbur.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* Dogs in the 2010 ''[[WesternAnimation/PoundPuppies2010 Pound Puppies]]'' TV series can be understood by humans when they talk, but to maintain a {{Masquerade}}, they only talk to people when they are disguised as people or cannot be seen.
* Elsie, Harry, and Dennis from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Stanley}}'' only talk to Stanley, his friends, and Grandma Griff.
* Craig from ''WesternAnimation/SanjayAndCraig'' can talk, but disguises himself as a human in public or whenever he needs to speak to anyone other than Sanjay and his closest friends.

[[/folder]]
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!!!Level 7: :

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* Manga/DragonBall has Oolong (pig), Puar (cat) and Karin (cat) among the heroes' supporting cast. All are funny animals, and there are funny animals who are implied to be sentient that appear sporadically in city scenes. All non-anthro animals are non-sapient. Even Ginyu lost his ability to talk and be understood when he [[FreakyFridayFlip accidentally changed bodies with a Namekian frog]].

[[AC:Film]]
* Iago from ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}''.
* WesternAnimation/TheAntBully only showed humans and insects talking.
* Wonderland in the animated Disney version of ''WesternAnimation/AliceInWonderland''.
* Jiminy Cricket and J. Worthington Foulfellow from ''WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}''.
* The mice in Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' can talk.
* WesternAnimation/TheRescuers and [[WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder its sequel]] count, but since only children are shown to talk to animals, this may be in between SpeaksFluentAnimal and this level.
* Donkey, the Three Little Pigs, the Three Blind Mice, and the Big Bad Wolf from ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' and Puss In Boots from ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek 2}}''. The ''Shrek'' movies and ''WesternAnimation/PussInBoots'' generally fall either in this level and Level 8 but more like this level.
* The Chipmunks and The Chippettes from ''Franchise/AlvinAndTheChipmunks'', both in the cartoons and in the live action movies.

[[AC:Literature]]
* A classic example of Level 5 is Literature/AnimalFarm, where the animals can talk to each other, but it seems only the pigs can talk to humans.
* The Cat in ''Literature/{{Coraline}}'', which can speak in the Other Mother's World in both the book and the film.
* Literature/StuartLittle seems to blend 3 and 5. Stuart, and mice, and a canary, can talk and be understood by humans. These small creatures can then talk to any other animal but the humans don't understand those creatures, like the cats. However, at least in the movies the humans are never around when Stuart is talking to other creatures so the cats may be wise enough to act dumb.
* Billy-bumblers from Stephen King's ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'' are either this level or Level 0. Most can only parrot what others say, but Oy shows signs of actual language.
* In the world of ''The Dragon and the George'' by Gordon Dickson, wolves can talk and be understood by humans and dragons. But most animals aren't like this. Jim [[TrappedInAnotherWorld (who comes from our own world)]] tries to talk to a badger, and his friends treat him like he's crazy. He tries explaining that [[ArbitrarySkepticism since he has encountered a talking wolf, talking dragons, and a talking beetle, he simply expected that a badger would be able to talk]].
* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', some animals can talk if they've been affected by a magical accident such as Gaspode the Wonder Dog and Literature/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents. It's also confirmed that ordinary animals have their own languages; Gaspode can talk to other dogs (''Literature/MovingPictures'' and ''Literature/MenAtArms'') and wolves (''Literature/TheFifthElephant'') and it's implied that the Educated Rodents ''can'' talk to ordinary rats but generally don't feel there's much they can say to them.

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan'', some animals can talk and others cannot; according to WordOfGod, it varies by individual, not by species. Spark, for instance, is a talking cat.
* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', with a remarkable lack of any consistent underlying logic. Bun-bun can talk, and he does have extraordinary physical abilities and an only partially revealed past involving tangling with supernatural beings, but there's still no actual indication he's meant to be anything but an incredibly badass rabbit that happens to talk. (He was bought from a magic shop when Torg was looking for a talking animal, but it's later shown he didn't just magically appear to fulfill that demand.) Kiki the ferret can talk, as could all the other animals in the animal testing lab she was found in, but it's never said this was the result of any experiment performed on them, and it looks like it wasn't. The Easter Bunny can talk, but he's a... [[AnthropomorphicPersonification lepomorphic personification]]? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer communicates by [[TalkingWithSigns holding up signs with writing]]. Frog can talk as a result of a genetically modified earwig altering his brain and giving him intellect ([[ItMakesSenseInContext it makes a little more sense in context]]), but his mate Corsica can't, having remained an ordinary frog like he used to be. Some animals can only talk AnimalTalk, which the talking animals may understand, but Corsica is pretty brainless and it's become clear Frog is only imagining her croaks have any meaning — especially as [[spoiler:it's not even the same Corsica any more, and he can't tell the difference]]. Sometimes animals are intelligent and/or talk just for a joke. Sometimes humans think animals shouldn't talk (or talking animals think humans should think animals shouldn't talk), sometimes they're not bothered by it.
--> '''Torg''': A talking frog! What the hell?!? Mammals and [[TalkingWeapon inanimate objects]] are one thing, but talking amphibians just stretches credulity!
* Some animals in ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' can talk, but so far these have all been doglike gods or {{psychopomp}}s. Ordinary animals generally cannot talk, even if they [[{{Animorphism}} used to be humans]], though one human character [[SpeaksFluentAnimal speaks animal-ese]] to some extent.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* The monkeys in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', not counting {{Funny Animal}}s Brian and Jasper.
** Also, a horse in one episode who is voiced by Creator/GilbertGottfried.
** This example may fall between this level and Level 8.
* Tim the bear from ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow''.
* Scooby-Doo and his relatives. ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' explicitly states that only some animals are able to speak to people [[spoiler:because they're [[LamarckWasRight the descendants]] of animals granted speech from being possessed by extra-dimensional beings.]]
* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/MarthaSpeaks''.
** Also, there is a parrot in one episode (“Martha: Deadline Doggie”) that can talk.
* ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' only showed humans and cats talking.
* Astro in ''WesternAnimation/TheJetsons''.
* The mice and Snowball the Hamster from ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' can talk.
* Dukey from ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyTest'' can be understood by people in general, but he hides his speech capabilities from any person except Johnny and his twin sisters.
* Nesmith the chimpanzee from ''WesternAnimation/PlanetSheen''.
* Jeff the spider from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy''.
* ''WesternAnimation/WatchMyChops'': Corneil can talk to people, but he hides that ability from everyone except Bernie.
* Flash the Rabbit and Molecom from ''WesternAnimation/RoaryTheRacingCar''.
* Clams and zebras from ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' talk. Even though there are two {{Token Human}}s (Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy), this is a FunnyAnimal world.
* Paco from ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndMiguel''.
* WesternAnimation/ChipAndDale, WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}}'s mynah bird Ellsworth, and WesternAnimation/PlutoThePup (albeit extremely speech impaired) and Humphrey the bear and Louie the mountain lion (albeit both [[TheUnintelligible unintelligibly]]) from the WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts. Even though there is at least one TokenHuman, this is a FunnyAnimal world.
* Monroe from ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfJuniperLee''.
* Fu Dog from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong''.
* Elsie, Harry, and Dennis from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Stanley}}''.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is a bit weird, there are no humans (unlike many previous incarnations) but ponies seem to fill the same niche. Most hoofed species (and mythological beasts) can speak the same language as ponies but others such as dogs and rabbits cannot, though they generally understand [[SpeaksFluentAnimal Fluttershy]] at the very least.
* The four animal philosophers from ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresFromTheBookOfVirtues''.
* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': Cringer (an Eternian tiger) can talk to humans. This isn't common to all animals.
* In the related ''WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower'' spin-off, Swift Wind (a winged unicorn) can talk to humans. Again, it's not because all creatures can talk to human. Some, however, clearly can. (Later it's shown regular pegacorns can speak with humans as well.)
* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' has a few examples, including Retarded Fish and The Christmas Critters. Also, MickeyMouse whenever he shows up in parodied form in the show.
* The dogs in ''WesternAnimation/PawPatrol''

[[AC:Real Life]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gef Gef the Talking Mongoose]]. Assuming he was real and not a hoax, the jury is still out as to whether he was in fact an animal that could talk, a poltergeist, or a cryptid.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_%28seal%29 Hoover the seal]] showed an ability to mimic "Get outta here!" in a thick New England accent.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_%28parrot%29 Alex]]. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_%28parrot%29#Accomplishments Just Alex]].
* [[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tedtalks/watch-did-this-expert-jus_b_4435670.html?utm_hp_ref=tw This expert thinks she managed to do it.]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_animal And some other examples on Wikipedia.]]
[[/folder]]
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!!!Level 8: A Lot Or Most Animals Can Talk:

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Film]]
* Every animal in ''WesternAnimation/FantasticMrFox'' except the dogs, chickens, and wolf.
* Every animal in ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfTheGuardiansTheOwlsOfGaHoole'' except the Tasmanian Devils.

[[AC:Literature]]
* Creator/CSLewis's ''[[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia Narnia]]'' falls in this level because some of the animals can talk and others cannot. Note that Talking Animals are specific creatures and differentiated from ordinary, non-talking animals, which can still be eaten or used for labor.
* In Creator/AlanDeanFoster's ''Literature/{{Spellsinger}}'' series, all warmblooded animals, turtles, and amphibians can talk, as can some arthropods living in distant realms. The majority also use the IntelligentGerbil trope, but hoofed mammals and cetaceans have a more conventional animal anatomy.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* The ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' games take place in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, with the PlayerCharacter being the TokenHuman. All of the villagers and {{NPC}}s can talk, but there are also non-talking animals, most notably [[NoCartoonFish fish]].
* ''VideoGame/GarfieldsFunFest'' handles its animal characters this way.
* The anthropomorphic animals of ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' can speak in human language. The non-anthropomorphic ones don't.
* ''VideoGame/FreedomPlanet'' is this or borderline 9, with all animals shown capable of speech except for [[NoCartoonFish fish]] and the Bird Guard, the latter of whom can understand English but can only quack.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* WesternAnimation/WowWowWubbzy is a WorldOfFunnyAnimals example.
* Most of the animals including WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog can talk.
** He can talk '''to the audience''', mostly in catchphrases, but to Muriel and Eustace Bagge it's yips and gibberish with various levels of comprehension.
* ''{{WesternAnimation/Spliced}}'' is mostly set in a WorldOfFunnyAnimals, but humans exist on the show, though none are expressly shown. (An interviewer may be human, but he is off camera.)
* Most WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes animal characters can talk.
** Same with ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}''.
[[/folder]]
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!!!Level 9: Every Single Animal Can Talk, But There Are No Humans:

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''ComicBook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew''

[[AC:Film]]
* WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda
* WesternAnimation/ChickenLittle
* WesternAnimation/RobinHood
* WesternAnimation/TheLionKing

[[AC:Literature]]
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfGaHoole''
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}''

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBackyardigans''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Babar}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/BabarAndTheAdventuresOfBadou''.
* ''Animation/TingaTingaTales''
* ''WesternAnimation/DinosaurTrain''
* ''WesternAnimation/MissSpidersSunnyPatchFriends''
* ''WesternAnimation/MamaMirabellesHomeMovies''
* ''WesternAnimation/USAcres''
[[/folder]]
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!!!Level 10: Every Single Animal Can Talk And Be Understood By People:

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Anime and Manga]]
* The animals in ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion'' literally all speak to '''humans''', and learn the dub language in ''seconds''.
* In ''Manga/PocketMonsters'' all Pokémon speak, except the protagonist's Pikachu.

[[AC:Film]]
* Andalasia in ''Film/{{Enchanted}}''.
* ''WesternAnimation/BeeMovie''
* Most of the animals in Wonderland in the Disney live action ''Film/AliceInWonderland2010''.
* ''WesternAnimation/OliveTheOtherReindeer''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfTheTitanic'' starts at level 4, but then goes to full-blown level 8 in its sequel.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook 2'' seems to be at this level, though only Shanti, Mowgli, and Ranjan are shown talking to the animals.

[[AC:Literature]]
* Pretty much every animal ''except'' Toto that makes the trip to [[Literature/LandOfOz Oz]] can talk there. [[spoiler:Toto can talk as well, he's just quiet.]]
* ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows''

[[AC:Newspaper Comics]]
* In ''ComicStrip/GetFuzzy'', pretty much every animal character seems to have this ability.
* Most of the animals in ''ComicStrip/PearlsBeforeSwine'' can talk.
* ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty''
** [[ExecutiveMeddling Talk of this element being removed]] is cited in the footnotes of the first volume of the Complete Collection as why the movie fell through.

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/WanderingHamster'', up to including Bob The Hamster himself.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* Most animals in Creator/HannaBarbera's {{Saturday Morning Cartoon}}s including WesternAnimation/YogiBear can talk.
* Most animals in ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'' can talk except Dino.
** Dino only spoke in the episode he debuted in.
* Every animal in ''Literature/LittleBear'' can speak English but Tutu the dog speaks French instead.
* ''WesternAnimation/NiHaoKaiLan''
* Most animals in ''WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer''.
* Most animals in ''WesternAnimation/GoDiegoGo''.
** The show implies Level 4 actually. When Baby Jaguar appears in ''WesternAnimation/DoraTheExplorer'', we don't understand him.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheCatInTheHatKnowsALotAboutThat''.
* Most animals in ''WesternAnimation/SuperWhy''.
* As little as characters talk in ''WesternAnimation/FlipTheFrog'', it seems that everyone seems to understand everyone verbally and nonverbally. Often even inanimate objects join the fun.
* The ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Woodland Critter Christmas" is at this level.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'' usually seems to be a Level 2, as most episodes are just about the FunnyAnimal citizenry of Elmore, but it's actually a Level 10. The people of Elmore understand humans that are occasionally shown on television and can also talk to the non-anthropomorphic animals, [[EverythingTalks plants, and every other thing]]--they just choose not to most of the time.
[[/folder]]

The Sliding Scale of Animal Communication ranges from animals who cannot communicate beyond body language (or simple hand gestures if they are anthropomorphic), to animals being able to communicate intelligently with humans.

* '''Level 0:''' Humans are the only animals that can talk; 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 2: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' Animals can talk to humans, but not without heavy speech impediments (i.e Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 3: Animals can use human speech or write''': There are certain kinds of animals who can talk freely with people or at least write.

* '''Level 3:''' Animals can use human speech or write''': There are certain kinds of {{Talking Animal}}s who can talk freely with people ([[SpeechImpairedAnimal with]] [[TalkingAnimal or without]] {{Speech Impediment}}s). Sometimes it may be limited to one, two, or a few specific individuals, but more often than not the ability to talk will be shared by most members of one, a few, or some species. Sometimes, the {{Talking Animal}}s are the {{Bilingual Animal}}s in an otherwise AnimalTalk world. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

The Sliding Scale of Animal Communication ranges from only humans being able to talk, to all animals (including humans) being able to talk and understand each other.

* '''Level 2: Animals Can Write'': Much like levels 3 and 4, but with the addition of certain animals who know how to write. Sometimes the animals can understand the person's human words in return, but other times the understanding is strictly one-way. Sometimes, these people may talk to animals in the animal's own language, but for only one species of animal. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 3: SpeechImpairedAnimal''' Animals can talk to humans, but not without heavy speech impediments (i.e Scooby Doo, Donald Duck).

* '''Level 4: TalkingAnimal''': There are certain kinds of {{Talking Animal}}s who can talk freely with people ([[SpeechImpairedAnimal with]] [[TalkingAnimal or without]] {{Speech Impediment}}s). Sometimes it may be limited to one, two, or a few specific individuals, but more often than not the ability to talk will be shared by most members of one, a few, or some species. Sometimes, the {{Talking Animal}}s are the {{Bilingual Animal}}s in an otherwise AnimalTalk world. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 2: SpeaksFluentAnimal''': Much like levels 3 and 4, but with the addition of certain humans who can understand AnimalTalk without need for a translation device. Sometimes the animals can understand the person's human words in return, but other times the understanding is strictly one-way. Sometimes, these people may talk to animals in the animal's own language, but for only one species of animal. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 5:''' A lot or most of the animals or a lot of or most species can talk, whether with {{Speech Impediment}}s or not, and be understood by people. More often than not, the non-talking animals are those that are designated as pets, though there are talking pets. Sometimes, the ability to talk will be shared by most members of many or most species. There is still a language barrier, but some examples are close to not having one at all. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 6:''' A lot or most of the animals or a lot of or most species can talk, whether with {{Speech Impediment}}s or not, and be understood by people. More often than not, the non-talking animals are those that are designated as pets, though there are talking pets. Sometimes, the ability to talk will be shared by most members of many or most species. There is still a language barrier, but some examples are close to not having one at all. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 7:''' ''All'' animals are {{Talking Animal}}s (or at least ''all'' animal species are capable of learning to talk by default), whether speech impaired or not, and there are no language barriers between the human stand-in animals and the normal ones. There are no humans other than {{Token Human}}s in the setting. TalkingAnimal world examples are allowed if there are no humans showing up in the world or even mention of humans being in the world at all whatsoever.

* '''Level 8:''' ''All'' animals are {{Talking Animal}}s (or at least ''all'' animal species are capable of learning to talk by default), whether speech impaired or not, and there are no language barriers between animal and human communication.

* '''Level 4: TalkingAnimal''': There are certain kinds of {{Talking Animal}}s who can talk freely with people ([[SpeechImpairedAnimal with]] [[TalkingAnimal or without]] {{Speech Impediment}}s). Sometimes it may be limited to one, two, or a few specific individuals, but more often than not the ability to talk will be shared by most members of one, a few, or some species. Sometimes, the {{Talking Animal}}s are the {{Bilingual Animal}}s in an otherwise AnimalTalk world. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

The Sliding Scale of Animal Communication ranges from only humans being able to talk to all animals (including humans) being able to talk and understand each other.

* '''Level 1:''' A variant of the above occurs when there are no humans other than {{Token Human}}s in the setting. Only one species of animal is allowed to talk. These {{talking animal}}s being the world's equivalent for humans if they are anthropomorphic. Again, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species is with a translation device.

* '''Level 2:''' Like Level 1, it occurs when there are no humans other than {{Token Human}}s in the setting and only human stand-in animals can talk. Unlike Level 1, anthropomorphic animals regardless of species or at least two or more species are allowed to talk. Still, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species or non-anthropomorphic animals is with a translation device.

* '''Level 3:''' This variant involves a MouseWorld in which only anthropomorphic (CivilizedAnimal[=/=]FunnyAnimal) animals can talk but don't talk to the humans in the world. The speech capable species can either be one species, two or more species, or any anthropomorphic animal regardless of species. Still, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species or non-anthropomorphic animals, barring the BilingualAnimal among them, is with a translation device.

* '''Level 4: AnimalTalk''': Animals have their own language and can talk freely to each other, but to human ears this language is either silence or nothing more than a stream of unintelligible babble. 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. Again, 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: SpeaksFluentAnimal''': Much like levels 3 and 4, but with the addition of certain humans who can understand AnimalTalk without need for a translation device. Sometimes the animals can understand the person's human words in return, but other times the understanding is strictly one-way. Sometimes, these people may talk to animals in the animal's own language, but for only one species of animal. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 6:''' These animals seem to be a straight example of AnimalTalk, but when these animals ever do talk to humans, the humans can understand them. They are really just hiding their ability to talk to most or all people. These animals only talk freely with people when they are disguised as humans. Some do talk to people, but only to a few select people or as a BrokenMasquerade. This can apply to a few, some, many, most, or all individual animals or animal species. Can exist as the hidden {{Bilingual Animal}}s in an otherwise AnimalTalk world.

* '''Level 7:''' There are certain kinds of {{Talking Animal}}s who can talk freely with people ([[SpeechImpairedAnimal with]] [[TalkingAnimal or without]] {{Speech Impediment}}s). Sometimes it may be limited to one, two, or a few specific individuals, but more often than not the ability to talk will be shared by most members of one, a few, or some species. Sometimes, the {{Talking Animal}}s are the {{Bilingual Animal}}s in an otherwise AnimalTalk world. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 8:''' A lot or most of the animals or a lot of or most species can talk, whether with {{Speech Impediment}}s or not, and be understood by people. More often than not, the non-talking animals are those that are designated as pets, though there are talking pets. Sometimes, the ability to talk will be shared by most members of many or most species. There is still a language barrier, but some examples are close to not having one at all. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 9:''' ''All'' animals are {{Talking Animal}}s (or at least ''all'' animal species are capable of learning to talk by default), whether speech impaired or not, and there are no language barriers between the human stand-in animals and the normal ones. There are no humans other than {{Token Human}}s in the setting. TalkingAnimal world examples are allowed if there there are no humans showing up in the world or even mention of humans being in the world at all whatsoever.

* '''Level 10:''' ''All'' animals are {{Talking Animal}}s (or at least ''all'' animal species are capable of learning to talk by default), whether speech impaired or not, and there are no language barriers between animal and human communication.

!!!Level 1: Only One Species Of Animal Can Talk:

[[folder:Examples]]

[[AC:Literature]]
* All of the dogs in ''Literature/DogsOfTheDrownedCity'' can talk. Only one cat named Fuzz learned to speak dog, and [[PoliticallyIncorrectHero Shep]] believes that dogs only talked to dogs (and dogs only), and that talking to a cat is like "talking to your kibble: a sign that you were four paws in the hole and going under".
* In ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'', all canids can speak with each other. Dogs and wolves can understand each other well, but foxes and coyotes often speak in YouNoTakeCandle sentences.
* In the first ''WesternAnimation/{{Felidae}}'' book, Francis is shocked that Pascal ([[spoiler:AKA Claudandus]]) is able to speak to humans, saying that cats aren't supposed to actually talk to humans.

[[AC:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Olivia}}'', only pigs can talk.
* In ''WesternAnimation/AngelinaBallerina'', only mice can talk.
* In ''WesternAnimation/MaxAndRuby'', only rabbits can talk.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TurboDogs'', only dogs can talk.
[[/folder]]

!!!Level 2: Only Anthropomorphic Animals Can Talk, WorldOfFunnyAnimals Version:

[[folder:Examples]]

* ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'' and ''WesternAnimation/AnExtremelyGoofyMovie'' may seem like Level 1 examples because {{WesternAnimation/Pete}} and PJ are portrayed as {{Dogfaces}}, but they are really examples of this level because Pete and PJ are really cats.
** And in ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'', Mickey and Donald, a talking mouse and a talking duck respectively, make a cameo. Also, two giraffes are shown singing in the "On The Open Road" scene.
* The ponies/horses in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' aren't all that anthropomorphic, but they are obviously the human stand-in species, though other equines such as mules and zebras can talk ([[RhymesOnADime even rhyme!]]) as well as dragons, griffins, and Diamond Dogs. Although, ''hydras'' seem incapable of speaking, and so do owls and [[ThePhoenix phoenixes]] (although Philomena the phoenix was a SpeechImpairedAnimal). There are also many non-talking animals, some of whom are kept as pets. For some reason, sheep can talk, but are still treated as livestock, while goats cannot talk but are still considered as "human" as ponies and other talking species.
* ''Literature/{{Franklin}}''. There are no humans, but there are certainly non-anthro animals.
[[/folder]]

!!!Level 3: Only Anthropomorphic Animals Can Talk, MouseWorld Version:

[[folder:Examples]]

* Only the anthropomorphic mice, rat, bat, and lizard in ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'' can talk, not the non-anthropomorphic dog, cat, and horses.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'', rats are the only animals who are shown to talk; a non-talking dog appears briefly as a background character. Remy, the rat protagonist can understand human talk and although humans don't understand him, he finds his way to communicate with humans.

[[AC:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/JonathanLivingstonSeagull'', seagulls can communicate with each other as intelligently as humans, but there is no evidence of cross-species communication and the book has no humans at all.

[[/folder]]

!!!Level 4: Animals Can Talk, But Not To People:

Examples go in AnimalTalk, not here.
----

!!!Level 7: Some Animals Can Talk And Be Understood By People:

* '''Level 1:''' A variant of the above occurs when there are no humans other than {{Token Human}}s in the setting. Only one species of animal is allowed to talk. These {{talking animal}}s being the world's equivalent for humans if they are anthropomorphic animals. Again, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species is with a translation device.

* '''Level 1:''' A variant of the above occurs when there are no humans other than {{Token Human}}s in the setting. Only one species of animal is allowed to talk, these {{talking animal}}s being the world's equivalent for humans. Again, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species is with a translation device.

* '''Level 3:''' This variant involves a MouseWorld in which only anthropomorphic (CivilizedAnimal[=/=]FunnyAnimal) animals can talk but don't talk to the humans in the world. The speech capable species can either be one species, two or more species, or any anthropomorphic animal regardless of species. Still, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species or non-anthropomorphic animals is with a translation device.

* '''Level 4: AnimalTalk''': Animals have their own language and can talk freely to each other, but to human ears this language is either silence or nothing more than a stream of unintelligible babble. 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), or only members of the same or similar species can understand each other's particular "language". Again, 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: SpeaksFluentAnimal''': Much like the previous level, but with the addition of certain humans who can understand AnimalTalk without need for a translation device. Sometimes the animals can understand the person's human words in return, but other times the understanding is strictly one-way. Sometimes, these people may talk to animals in the animal's own language, but for only one species of animal. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* '''Level 6:''' These animals seem to be a straight example of AnimalTalk, but when these animals ever do talk to humans, the humans can understand them. They are really just hiding their ability to talk to most or all people. These animals only talk freely with people when they are disguised as humans. Some do talk to people, but only to a few select people or as a BrokenMasquerade. This can apply to a few, some, many, most, or all individual animals or animal species.

* '''Level 7:''' There are certain kinds of {{Talking Animal}}s who can talk freely with people ([[SpeechImpairedAnimal with]] [[TalkingAnimal or without]] {{Speech Impediment}}s). Sometimes it may be limited to one, two, or a few specific individuals, but more often than not the ability to talk will be shared by most members of one, a few, or some species. The example can either be a human world example or a FunnyAnimal world example.

* Clams and zebras from ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' talk. Even though there are two {{Token Human}}s, this is a FunnyAnimal world.

[[AC:Live Action TV]]

[[AC:Literature]]
* A classic example of Level 5 is Literature/AnimalFarm, where the animals can talk to each other, but it seems only the pigs can talk to humans.
* The Cat in ''Literature/{{Coraline}}'', which can speak in the Other Mother's World in both the book and the film.
* Literature/StuartLittle seems to blend 3 and 5. Stuart, and mice, and a canary, can talk and be understood by humans. These small creatures can then talk to any other animal but the humans don't understand those creatures, like the cats. However, at least in the movies the humans are never around when Stuart is talking to other creatures so the cats may be wise enough to act dumb.
* Billy-bumblers from Stephen King's ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'' are either this level or Level 0. Most can only parrot what others say, but Oy shows signs of actual language.
* In the world of ''The Dragon and the George'' by Gordon Dickson, wolves can talk and be understood by humans and dragons. But most animals aren't like this. Jim [[TrappedInAnotherWorld (who comes from our own world)]] tries to talk to a badger, and his friends treat him like he's crazy. He tries explaining that [[ArbitrarySkepticism since he has encountered a talking wolf, talking dragons, and a talking beetle, he simply expected that a badger would be able to talk]].
* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', some animals can talk if they've been affected by a magical accident such as Gaspode the Wonder Dog and Literature/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents. It's also confirmed that ordinary animals have their own languages; Gaspode can talk to other dogs (''Literature/MovingPictures'' and ''Literature/MenAtArms'') and wolves (''Literature/TheFifthElephant'') and it's implied that the Educated Rodents ''can'' talk to ordinary rats but generally don't feel there's much they can say to them.

[[AC:Literature]]
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfGaHoole''
* ''Literature/{{Redwall}}''

[[AC:Literature]]
* Pretty much every animal ''except'' Toto that makes the trip to [[Literature/LandOfOz Oz]] can talk there. [[spoiler:Toto can talk as well, he's just quiet.]]
* ''Literature/TheWindInTheWillows''

* The ponies/horses in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' aren't all that anthropomorphic, but they are obviously the human stand-in species, though other equines such as mules and zebras can talk ([[RhymesOnADime even rhyme!]]) as well as dragons, griffins, and Diamond Dogs. Although, ''hydras'' seem incapable of speaking, and so do owls and [[ThePhoenix phoenixes]] (although Philomena the phoenix was a SpeechImpairedAnimal). There are also many non-talking animals, some of whom are kept as pets.

* In ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'', all canids can speak with each other. Dogs and wolves can understand each other well, but foxes and coyotes are often speaking in YouNoTakeCandle sentences.

* Only the anthropomorphic mice, rat, bat, and lizard in ''Disney/TheGreatMouseDetective'' can talk, not the non-anthropomorphic dog, cat, and horses.

* Iago from ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''.

* Wonderland in the animated Disney version of ''Disney/AliceInWonderland''.
* Jiminy Cricket and J. Worthington Foulfellow from ''Disney/{{Pinocchio}}''.
* The mice in Disney's ''Disney/{{Cinderella}}'' can talk.
* Disney/TheRescuers and [[Disney/TheRescuersDownUnder its sequel]] count, but since only children are shown to talk to animals, this may be in between SpeaksFluentAnimal and this level.

* Disney/ChickenLittle
* Disney/RobinHood
* Disney/TheLionKing

* ''Disney/TheJungleBook 2'' seems to be at this level, though only Shanti, Mowgli, and Ranjan are shown talking to the animals.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', some animals can talk if they've been affected by a magical accident such as Gaspode the Wonder Dog and Discworld/TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents. It's also confirmed that ordinary animals have their own languages; Gaspode can talk to other dogs (''Discworld/MovingPictures'' and ''Discworld/MenAtArms'') and wolves (''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'') and it's implied that the Educated Rodents ''can'' talk to ordinary rats but generally don't feel there's much they can say to them.

* ScoobyDoo and his relatives. ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' explicitly states that only some animals are able to speak to people [[spoiler:because they're [[LamarckWasRight the descendants]] of animals granted speech from being possessed by extra-dimensional beings.]]

* '''Level 3:''' This variant involves a MouseWorld in which only anthropomorphic (CivilizedAnimal, FunnyAnimal, and PettingZooPerson) animals can talk but don't talk to the humans in the world. The speech capable species can either be one species, two or more species, or any anthropomorphic animal regardless of species. Still, the only way they can talk with ''other'' animal species or non-anthropomorphic animals is with a translation device.

* In the world of ''The Dragon and the George'' by Gordon Dickson, wolves can talk and be understood by humans and dragons. But most animals aren't like this. There's a CrowningMomentOfFunny when Jim [[TrappedInAnotherWorld (who comes from our own world)]] tries to talk to a badger, and his friends treat him like he's crazy. He tries explaining that [[ArbitrarySkepticism since he has encountered a talking wolf, talking dragons, and a talking beetle, he simply expected that a badger would be able to talk]].

* The ponies/horses in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' aren't all that anthropomorphic, but they are obviously the human stand-in species, though other equines such as mules and zebras can talk ([[RhymesOnADime even rhyme!]]) as well as dragons. Although, ''hydras'' seem incapable of speaking, and so do owls and [[ThePhoenix phoenixes]] (although Philomena the phoenix was a SpeechImpairedAnimal).

* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', with a remarkable lack of any consistent underlying logic. Bun-bun can talk, and he does have extraordinary physical abilities and an only partially revealed past involving tangling with supernatural beings, but there's still no actual indication he's meant to be anything but an incredibly badass rabbit that happens to talk. Kiki the ferret can talk, as could all the other animals in the animal testing lab she was found in, but it's never said this was the result of any experiment performed on them, and it looks like it wasn't. The Easter Bunny can talk, but he's a... [[AnthropomorphicPersonification lepomorphic personification]]? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer communicates by [[TalkingWithSigns holding up signs with writing]]. Frog can talk as a result of a genetically modified earwig altering his brain and giving him intellect ([[ItMakesSenseInContext it makes a little more sense in context]]), but his mate Corsica can't, having remained an ordinary frog like he used to be. Some animals can only talk AnimalTalk, which the talking animals may understand, but Corsica is pretty brainless and it's become clear Frog is only imagining her croaks have any meaning — especially as [[spoiler:it's not even the same Corsica any more, and he can't tell the difference]]. Sometimes animals are intelligent and/or talk just for a joke. Sometimes humans think animals shouldn't talk (or talking animals think humans should think animals shouldn't talk), sometimes they're not bothered by it.