How Stella Learned to Talk

1. Recognizing the potential for canine communication through AAC

Communication is everywhere when you know how to look for it.

Observing prelinguistic skills. As a speech-language pathologist, Christina Hunger noticed similarities between her dog Stella's communication attempts and those of toddlers before they start speaking. These included:

• Using eye contact and gestures to direct attention
• Responding to verbal commands
• Vocalizing to gain attention
• Demonstrating understanding of routines

This observation led Christina to wonder if dogs could learn to use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, similar to those used by nonverbal children. She hypothesized that if dogs can understand words, they might be able to express themselves using the same technology.

2. Starting small: Teaching Stella her first words

I had absolutely no idea that something this revolutionary was happening in my home, yet nobody else knew about it.

Introducing the first button. Christina began by programming a single recordable button with the word "outside." She consistently modeled its use before taking Stella outside, employing techniques used in speech therapy:

• Aided language input: Using the device while speaking
• Focused language stimulation: Repeating target words in context

After about a month, Stella pressed the button independently to request going outside. This success encouraged Christina to add more buttons, including "water," "play," and "walk." Stella quickly learned to use these words appropriately, demonstrating intentional communication.

3. Expanding vocabulary and observing language development

Stella had now officially used all ten of her words independently. I had always modeled "love you" during natural moments of connection with Stella, like a parent would with a child.

Gradual vocabulary expansion. Christina carefully selected new words based on:

• Frequency of use in daily life
• Relevance to Stella's interests and needs
• Potential for combining with other words

As Stella's vocabulary grew, she began to:

• Combine words to create phrases (e.g., "play outside")
• Use words for multiple functions (requesting, commenting, expressing emotions)
• Generalize words to new contexts

Christina observed that Stella's language development paralleled that of young children, including babbling with new words and progressing from single words to multi-word utterances.

4. Overcoming challenges and adapting teaching methods

Was that a crazy coincidence? Did Stella really mean to put two words together to create a phrase? It was just too unreal.

Continuous adaptation. Throughout the process, Christina faced several challenges:

• Uncertainty about Stella's true comprehension
• Difficulty in button placement and accessibility
• Transitioning to new devices and layouts

To address these issues, Christina:

• Closely observed Stella's communication patterns
• Experimented with different button arrangements
• Provided consistent modeling and support during transitions

She also learned to trust Stella's abilities, often being surprised by the dog's creative use of language and problem-solving skills. For example, when a "beach" button broke, Stella found a way to express the concept using other available words.

5. Witnessing Stella's language explosion and complex communication

Stella had officially progressed to a level far beyond what I ever thought was possible. We had a real conversation, across the apartment, with our one-year-old dog.

Rapid language development. As Stella became more proficient with her device, her communication skills expanded dramatically:

• Using over 30 words independently
• Combining words to create novel phrases
• Expressing opinions and preferences
• Asking and answering questions
• Commenting on past events and future plans

Examples of Stella's complex communication:

• Telling Christina "love you" when she was sick
• Expressing preferences for specific activities or foods
• Asking "where?" when curious about destinations or objects

This progress demonstrated that Stella was not simply associating buttons with rewards but genuinely understanding and using language to express her thoughts and desires.

6. Sharing the discovery with the world and managing sudden fame

I did not want my feelings toward my work to be contingent on anyone else's perceptions of it. I did not want to start the habit of saying, "There are so many positive comments on this video, I'm so happy," then seeing a negative comment and being upset by it.

Unexpected viral success. Christina's work with Stella gained widespread attention after a People magazine article, leading to:

• Rapid growth in social media followers
• Numerous media interviews and appearances
• Overwhelming public interest and inquiries

Challenges of sudden fame:

• Balancing media requests with ongoing work and research
• Managing public expectations and misconceptions
• Maintaining focus on the scientific aspects of the discovery

Christina learned to prioritize sharing the essence of her work while staying true to her original goals and maintaining a healthy perspective on public opinion.

7. Implications for human-animal communication and future research

This is just the start. It is the door opening to show what is possible, and all that we as a society have to explore and learn.

Paradigm shift in animal cognition. Christina's work with Stella challenges existing beliefs about animal communication capabilities and opens new avenues for research:

• Potential for more complex inter-species communication
• Implications for animal welfare and understanding
• Possibilities for expanding the use of AAC in various species

Future directions:

• Replicating the study with other dogs and animals
• Exploring the limits of animal language acquisition
• Developing specialized AAC devices for different species

This groundbreaking work invites researchers, animal behaviorists, and the public to reconsider what's possible in human-animal communication and cognition.

Last updated: August 13, 2024