From the "When You Have Too Much Time On Your Hands" Department

This just in! I'm not making this up! Farmers believe cows moo with accents!

It's one thing when farmers think this the case. Here at the cave, we understand. They have lots of time on their hands, well, to take time to "notice" things. We accept that! It becomes serious news stuff when the "experts" get involved.

John Wells, Professor of Phonetics at University College London,...said that a similar phenomenon had been found in birds.
"You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country. This could also be true of cows," Wells said on the group's Web site (www.farmhousecheesemakers.com).

Funny Dr. Wells would say this, 'cuz just the other day, I noticed this too. I thought that I was crazy. Birds in Milwaukee are quite different than in Oshkosh. Milwaukee birds have this distinct nasal quality that almost matches what I hear from the Polish community and they burp like some of the best beer drinkers I've met. Up here in Oshkosh, birds flatten their vowels and hold their O's longer with the Norwegian "Yooper" effect, "don't cha knoooooow." This is especially noticable near Lambeau Field, where the Paaaackersss play. Flat A's, long O's, yup. That's how I hear it!

Enjoy your day and see if you too, notice animals communicating in dialects. I hear my black lab (short for Labrador, which is located in Canada), Cassie, barking, eh? She wants to come in now, eh? She chased all the squirrels away, eh? She's ready for her rawhide snackie, eh?

Have a great day...eh? Oh, and if you have a pet that has an accent, or notice this phenomenon happening in your locale, let us know. Here at the cave, we are a highly "scientific" blogsite, doncha know!