is that mooo or moooooo or mooo...ooo? please moo properly

[Luis G]

Cows have regional accents like humans, language specialists have suggested.

They decided to examine the issue after dairy farmers noticed their cows had slightly different moos, depending on which herd they came from.

John Wells, Professor of Phonetics at the University of London, said regional twangs had been seen before in birds.

The farmers in Somerset who noticed the phenomenon said it may have been the result of the close bond between them and their animals.

Farmer Lloyd Green, from Glastonbury, said: "I spend a lot of time with my ones and they definitely moo with a Somerset drawl.


"I've spoken to the other farmers in the West Country group and they have noticed a similar development in their own herds.

"It works the same as with dogs - the closer a farmer's bond is with his animals, the easier it is for them to pick up his accent."

Peer pressure

Prof Wells felt the accents could result from their contemporaries.

He said: "This phenomenon is well attested in birds. You find distinct chirping accents in the same species around the country.

"This could also be true of cows.

"In small populations such as herds you would encounter identifiable dialectical variations which are most affected by the immediate peer group."

Dr Jeanine Treffers-Daller, reader in linguistics at the University of the West of England in Bristol, agreed that the accent could be influenced by relatives.

She said: "When we are learning to speak, we adopt a local variety of language spoken by our parents, so the same could be said about the variation in the West Country cow moo."

Source and sound samples

 

[Professur]

John Wells, Professor of Phonetics at the University of London

Your tax dollars at work.

 

[highwayman]

Leave it up to people who have nothing better to do...
How does this affect the quality of the milk or meat?

 

[Professur]

Well, you know if the cow's got a Glasgow accent, you may as well line it up for Beer Roast Beef. It's already half way there.

 

[A.B.Normal]

{Jersey Cow} moooookk{/Jersey Cow}

 

[chcr]

Brooklyn Cow: I gotcher moo right here.

 

[Spirit]

Canadian Cow: Moooo, eh?

 

[Spirit]

Ok.. so this reminds me of a story my sister told me.

When her son was 5 yrs old, her hubby told their son that cows don't go *Moooo* they go *Nnnnerrr*. One day, in kindergarten, the teacher was asking the kids what sounds different animals made. Well, my nephew go into a bit of an arguement with the teacher over *moo* and *ner*!!

 

[MrBishop]

French Canadian Cow: Le Moo, tabarnaque!!

 

[Professur]

French Canadian Cow: Le Moo, tabarnaque!!

Nahw theeth funna raht there, ah don care who y'are.

 

[Spirit]

French Canadian Cow: Le Moo, tabarnaque!!

 

[highwayman]

Canadian Cow: Moooo, eh?

Should there be a hosier in there somewhere?

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Your tax dollars at work.

How would my tax dollars make it to London?




I've known cows have regional accents for years. Just listen to Rosanne and then to Rosie O'Donnell. I rest my case.

 

[Professur]

I wasn't talking to you.

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Oh.

But how would London spend tax dollars anyway? Don't they use quid or summat?

 

[catocom]

I only hear the cows around here when they're in heat.
Then they sound more like Godzilla.

 

[Professur]

You can spend a buck in London as easily as New York.

 

[Professur]

I only hear the cows around here when they're in heat.
Then they sound more like Godzilla.

That's coz you're squeezing their hips too hard.

 

[catocom]

That's coz you're squeezing their hips too hard.

Not me man. I don't go inside that fence......there's a mean-ass long-horn bull in there.

 

[Gonz]

Brooklyn Cow: I gotcher moo right here.

Go moo yerself.

Does a crooner cow sing MOOn River?