Zoolingualism

"Got to say, it sucked. I mean, I've been here for months but I did learn how to speak pigeon."

"(pigeon cooing sounds)"

"No, your the best. Peace be with you my brother."

― Gary Goodspeed (Final Space)

The power to talk to animal life forms and understand their reactions. Variation of Omnilingualism.

Also Called

Animal Communication/Whispering
Animal Soul Speaking
Dolittling
Faunal Communication

Capabilities

The user is able to understand the speech or emotions of animal life forms. This ability is quite uncommon and multifaceted. Some variations are magic-based while others are natural talents or mental powers, similar to Telepathy (but limited to animals). The use of Zoolingualism is sometimes imagined as imitating animal sounds, like the barking of a dog. Zoolinguists are normally shown using their abilities in their native language, in an animal-language (like Parseltongue or Mangani), or even mentally without any spoken words.

Some users are able to understand animals in every imaginable way, which results in enormous knowledge and foreseeability of their actions.

Variations

Associations

Origins

Magic-based

Some cases of magical Zoolingualism are known. A well-known example might be Parseltongue, the magical language of Snakes (Harry Potter). The title character himself was able to speak this mysterious language, without even recognizing it. Parselmouths (users of Parseltongue) are able to understand the thoughts of snakes and even give them commands.

Another form of magical Zoolingualism is the telepathic connection of a Dragon Rider to his Dragon (Eragon). Dragons, shown as intelligent and civilized creatures, may stand on the same level as humans or even higher, but they aren't able to talk.

Both examples are limited to a specified type of nonhuman creatures.

Natural ability

Zoolingualism as a natural ability is quite uncommon, especially amongst humans. That would assume a physiological component, like a body part or an organ. However, the humanoid alien race of the moon Pandora, the Na'vi, are able to establish a special physical connection with their fauna, called Tsaheylu (Na'vi for "The bond"). Tsaheylu allows the Na'vi, to link their mind with the brain of animals to wield influence in their actions, without taking their free will.

Mental/Psychic

Even in the Pokémon franchise, a world without any normal animals, Zoolingualism is present. The young Pokémon Trainer and "Frontier Brain" Anabel showed the ability to sense the feelings of any Pokémon and communicate with them without even using words, Telepathy. That gives her a great advantage in a Pokémon-Battle, because the enemy is always unaware of her next move. Similar to her, but less apparent, is the gym leader Sabrina, who shared a psychic connection with her Pokémon Kadabra. Both, Anabel and Sabrina, are psychic-type trainers.

Heredity

Some variations of Zoolingualism seem to be heritable. It's known that Dr. Dolittle's daughters, Charisse and Maya Dolittle inherited the ability from her father. The parselmouth Tom Riddle (alias Lord Voldemort) also inherited this ability, as his mother and his whole maternal kinship, back to his ancestor Salazar Slytherin, consisted of a long line of Parselmouths.

Limitations

May be limited to certain kinds of animals.
Doesn't give control over animals.
Unless one is multilingual or has the automatic ability to translate, there may be a chance it won't work if the animal is "speaking" in another language.

Known Users

See Also: Speaks Fluent Animal.

Live Television/Movies

Dr. John Dolittle (Dr. Dolittle)
Adam (Son of Bigfoot)
Bigfoot (Son of Bigfoot)
David (All Dogs Go To Heaven 2); via angel's spell
Annie-Marie (All Dogs go to Heaven)
Charisse Dolittle (Dr. Dolittle)
Maya Dolittle (Dr. Dolittle)
Jefferson Reed (The Meteor Man)
Katrin (Katrin und die Welt der Tiere)
Cole Evans/Red Wild Force Ranger (Power Rangers Wild Force)
Maya/Yellow Galaxy Ranger (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy)
Layla's Mother (Sky High)
Na'vi (Avatar)
Dar/The Beastmaster (Beastmaster)
Inuk (Inuk)
Ferals (Feral)
Moon (Bug Me Not); to insects only
Marvin Forman (Marvin Marvin)
London Tipton (The Suit Life Movie); temporarily, with cetacean and fish
Giselle (Enchanted)
Eleventh & Twelfth Doctor (Doctor Who)
Nita (Brother Bear 2); via The Great Spirits' spell
Haru Yoshioka (The Cat Returns); with cats
Dean Winchester (Supernatural); via the human/animal mind meld spell
Amaya Jiwe (DC's Legends of Tomorrow); via the Anansi Totem
Tom Turbo (Tom Turbo)

Cartoons/Comics

Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)
Lilliput (Darkwing Duck); via helmet, ants only
Roxy (Winx Club)
Widget (Widget The World Watcher)
Elizabeth "Eliza" Thornberry (The Wild Thornberrys)
Tavros (Homestuck)
Spawn (Image Comics)
Spider-Man (Marvel Comics); insects and arachnids only
Ant Man (Marvel Comics); via cybernetic helmet, ants and other higher order insects only
Lizard (Marvel Comics); reptiles only
Doreen Allene Green/Squirrel Girl (Marvel Comics); squirrels only
Grace (El Goonish Shive)
Guineas (El Goonish Shive)
Hedge (El Goonish Shive)
Vlad (El Goonish Shive)
Kronk (The Emperor's New Groove)
Dawn (Total Drama)
Starfire (Teen Titans Go!)
Super Commando Dhruva (Raj Comics)
Buddy Baker/Animal Man (DC Comics)
Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls)
Fluttershy (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)
Fluttershy (My Little Pony: Equestria Girls)
Blythe Baxter (Littlest Pet Shop)
Jane Boolittle (Monster High)
SheZow (SheZow)
Anne Marie (All Dogs Go to Heaven)
Penny (The Rescuers)
Ness (EarthBound)
Aurora (Disney's Sleeping Beauty)
Cinderella (Disney's Cinderella)
Pocahontas (Disney's Pocahontas)
Jasmine (Disney's Aladdin)
Ariel (Disney's The Little Mermaid); fishes only
Tiana (Disney's The Princess and the Frog)
Prince Naveen (Disney's The Princess and the Frog)
Kevin Whitney (Krypto The Superdog); via universal translator
Cody (The Rescuers Down Under)
Sofia the First (Sofia the First); via Amulet of Avalor
Kate (Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville); via Friendship Heart
Animan (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir)
Chase (PAW Patrol); beavers and owls only
Cap'n Horatio Turbot (Paw Patrol)
Tilly Turbot (Paw Patrol)
Ro/Rosella (Barbie as the Island Princess)
Luke Triton (Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva)
Morty Smith (Rick and Morty); via animal mind-reading device
Creepie Creature (Growing Up Creepie); insects and arachnids only
Marselino (Marcelino pan y vino); cartoon only
Tupu (Tupu)
Mira (The Hollow)
Lopaka (Flipper and Lopaka); sea creatures only
King Ezran (The Dragon Prince)

Literature

Parselmouths (Harry Potter); only snakes
Tarzan (Tarzan of the Apes/Disney's Tarzan)
Jack Stevens (Ripley's Bureau of Investigation), except for snakes
Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians); only with fish, horses, and horse-kin
Tyson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians); only with fish, horses, and horse-kin
Satyrs/Fauns (Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus)
- Grover
- Coach Hedge
- Chuck
Eragon (Inheritance Cycle)
Faes (Shadow Falls); those gifted with animal communication
- Derek Lakes; via Animal Empathy
- Hannah Brandon; via Animal Telepathy
- Dr. Whitman
Chameleons (Shadow Falls); with fae and/or werewolf powers
- Kylie Galen; to canines
High-ranked werewolves (Shadow Falls); limited to canines
Radagast (Lord of The Rings)
Billy Raven (Charlie Bone)
Mowgli (Jungle Book)
Larka (The Sight); to birds only
Magnus Chase (Magnus Chase and the gods of Asgard)