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by nerdjon 1494 days ago
huh I didn't think about that. I think we can fairly safely assume that them knowing their name is not an understanding of language and is just a recognition of a sound. At least based on any research that has been able to be done.

So that would make sense in a way. And does lead to some... funny thoughts on what they may think my name is.
1 comments
fy20 1494 days ago
Isn't that all names are anyway? Of course some people have names that mean other things, like say River, but you don't need to understand any language to know your name.
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nerdjon 1494 days ago
True, I think more. As a human even if I hear a name in another language I still fundamentally understand that it is language.

Where I have to wonder if for a cat, I could train them to have a sound I play on their phone to be their name for all they care (kinda going back to them possibly thinking a ringtone could be my name). It's still just a sound that they are responding to not a word.

Maybe like you said though, the difference doesn't matter. Maybe even as humans while we understand that a name is language it is still something else entirely? I don't know, that is a realm of cognitive study I know nothing about. But it is fascinating.

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Archelaos 1494 days ago
> As a human even if I hear a name in another language I still fundamentally understand that it is language.

Reminds me of the classic Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry sketch "Your name, sir?": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNoS2BU6bbQ

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