A biologist believes that trees speak a language we can learn

[Judi Lynn]

WRITTEN BY

Ephrat Livni
OBSESSION

Language
November 03, 2017

I’m in a redwood forest in Santa Cruz, California, taking dictation for the trees outside my cabin. They speak constantly, even if quietly, communicating above- and underground using sound, scents, signals, and vibes. They’re naturally networking, connected with everything that exists, including you.

Biologists, ecologists, foresters, and naturalists increasingly argue that trees speak, and that humans can learn to hear this language.

Many people struggle with this concept because they can’t perceive that trees are interconnected, argues biologist George David Haskell in his 2017 book The Songs of Trees. Connection in a network, Haskell says, necessitates communication and breeds languages; understanding that nature is a network is the first step in hearing trees talk.

For the average global citizen, living far from the forest, that probably seems abstract to the point of absurdity. Haskell points readers to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador for practical guidance. To the Waorani people living there, nature’s networked character and the idea of communication among all living things seems obvious. In fact, the relationships between trees and other lifeforms are reflected in Waorani language.

More:
https://qz.com/1116991/a-biologist-believes-that-trees-speak-a-language-we-can-learn/

[sandensea]

1. Beautiful, isn't it.

I can't help looking at that without hearing this in the back of my mind:

[Wwcd]

2. Native Americans have always believed the same. Spirit is Mother Earth, Father Sky

Spirit speaks

Thank you for this lovely post

[Binkie The Clown]

3. I hear their bark is worse than .......

Oh never mind. Forget I said it.

[angstlessk]

4. Just bought the book by Beth Moon

Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time

They lived, perhaps, long before we put fins on this earth!

Who are we to say they have no language?

[hunter]

5. Building instrumentation to "hear" the language would be a worthy goal.

I'm certain dogs can hear some of it with their noses, and people too with practice.

What I want is a stick I could poke into the ground that would tap into the network of roots and fungi that tie all the trees in a forest together.

It always amuses me that we go looking for language in outer space yet we are entirely incapable of discerning, let alone understanding, non-human languages here on earth.

How would we know if anyone was trying to talk to us if we can't even understand non-human species on our own planet?

[CrispyQ]

6. What an excellent post!

It always amuses me that we go looking for language in outer space yet we are entirely incapable of discerning, let alone understanding, non-human languages here on earth.

How would we know if anyone was trying to talk to us if we can't even understand non-human species on our own planet?

[CrispyQ]

7. I got my love of tress from my grandfather.

I was the only grandkid patient enough to sit & fish with him. I learned a lot about fish, trees, & birds.

I have a book of photos of Earth from satellite images. The cities look like a cancer on the planet.