2024-12-06
53 分钟In Lexicat part 1, we met the author Mary Robinette Kowal and her cat Elsie, and learned about how they communicate via a set of buttons programmed with words. In part 2, two talking dogs, Bastian and Parker - and their humans, Joelle Andres and Sascha Crasnow - join us too, and explain how they discovered some very unexpected things about what their animal companions are thinking and feeling thanks to the buttons, and how they changed the ways they communicate with other humans too. And animal behaviour expert Zazie Todd gives us some tips for interpreting cats’ and dogs’ body language. Find out more about the episode and read the transcript at theallusionist.org/lexicat2. Content note: this episode contains mentions of Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and death - human and animal death. But no descriptions of death. To help fund this independent podcast, take yourself to theallusionist.org/donate and become a member of the Allusioverse. You get regular livestreams with me reading from my ever-expanding collection of dictionaries, inside scoops into the making of this show, and watchalong parties - coming up, we've got Carol, Die Hard and Cold Comfort Farm. And best of all, you get to bask in the company of your fellow Allusionauts in our delightful Discord community. And go to theallusionist.org/events for information about the upcoming livestreams where I read A Christmas Carol, and the Allusionist's big 10th birthday live show. This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, with music and production assistance from Martin Austwick of palebirdmusic.com. Find @allusionistshow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, etc. Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk about your product or thing on the show, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by: • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online bailiwick. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.• Constant Wonder, the podcast that opens our eyes and ears to the nature around us and its, yes, constant wonders. Listen to Constant Wonder in your usual podcast-listening places.• Quince, luxurious clothing and homewares at prices 50-80% lower than comparable brands. Go to Quince.com/allusionist for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners eighteen free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist. Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is the Allusionist in which I, Helen Zaltzman, throw language a bone.
Actually, you will hear some distant noises of bone chewing in this episode.
It's dogs, it's not me.
And there are also some sounds of dog lolling against the recording equipment.
I swear it was a dog and not me.
Because this episode is the second half of the pair about humans and companion animals communicating via buttons programmed with human language.
In Lexacat Part one, we met science fiction author Mary Robinette Cowell and her cat Elsie and heard about how they learned to do this.
And animal behavior expert Zazi Todd discussed what animals might be getting from this process of interacting with human language.
So I suggest you listen to part one before this if you haven't already heard it.
Note the Allusionist is not affiliated in any way with any companies that sell communication systems to use with animals, and I have not been paid to feature the people and animals that do use them.
I'm just interested in how and why they do it.
Before we get into it, I have a bunch of things to tell you about.
It's the allusionist's 10th birthday in January and I'm celebrating with a big live show at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, BC on 12 January 2025 with a special performance of the latest Allusionist live show, souvenirs about friends and friendship, breakups and fonts and the history of the word ass.
Plus special material for and about Vancouver.
I've linked to tickets@theillusionist.org events where you should also go for the dates and times of a special online event.
This month of December 2024, I will be reading the whole of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens over@YouTube.com illusionistshow and you're all invited.
I'll be reading it aloud.
You wouldn't just be watching me quietly turning pages.
And this novel is a real banger.
It's so funny, it's so sharp.