You are! Yes, you are!

你是！沒錯，你是！

Yes, you are! Yes, you are!

對，你是！是，你是的！

Um... do you even know what I'm saying?

嗯，你知道我在說什麼嗎？

If you're one of the millions of dog owners who talk to man's best friend like this, you're not alone.

如果你是數百萬名會跟人類最好朋友交談的狗主人之一，那你並不孤單。

But how effective is it?

但它究竟多有效？

Do you want to have a real conversation with your dog?

你想要跟你的狗狗有真正的對談嗎？

Well, here's how to do it, "according to science".

這裡是《according to science》教你的做法。

At times, you might feel silly or a little embarrassed to talk to your dog in a high-pitched, baby-like voice.

你有時可能會因為自己用高亢、嬰兒般的聲音跟狗狗說話而感到很傻或有點困窘。

But don't be!

但別這樣想。

Talking to your pets as if they're human is a sign of high intelligence.

像對待人類般地與你的寵物交談是高智商的徵兆。

It's known as "anthropomorphizing", which is when you consider something that isn't human to have human characteristics.

這被稱為「人格化」，也就是當你將非人類事物視為擁有人類特徵。

So, although talking to your Golden Retriever like a baby might make you feel stupid, you're really smart!

所以說，雖然像嬰兒一樣跟你的黃金獵犬說話可能會讓你感到愚蠢，但其實你是很聰明的！

And even if we wanted to stop talking this way, it'd be pretty difficult, and here's why.

而即使我們想停止用這種方式講話，它也會相當困難，原因如下。

A 2017 study asked 30 women to record their voice while reading phrases you might say to a dog, like, "Hi, cutie, who's a good boy?"

2017 年的一項研究請 30 位女子在講出可能對狗狗說出如「嗨，小可愛，好男孩是誰」的話時，錄下自己的聲音。

The women recorded the phrases while looking at pictures of dogs and humans.

這些女子是在看狗狗和人類照片時進行話語錄音。

When they looked at a pictures of humans, their voice was normal, but as they looked at pictures of dogs and puppies, their voice got higher-pitched and more baby-like.

當她們看著人類的圖片時，聲音是正常的，但當她們看著大、小狗的照片時，聲音就變得更高、更像嬰兒。

Talking to dogs like this is natural for us, and it's not because we're so overwhelmed with their cuteness that we just can't help it.

像這樣對狗狗講話對我們來說是很自然的，而那並不是因為牠們的可愛之極讓我們無法自拔。

Well, there might be a little bit of that.

好啦，或許有一點點這樣的成分。

But it's also because talking to them like this is the best way for them to understand us.

但這也是因為像這樣跟牠們講話是他們了解我們的最佳方式。

Dogs are incredibly attentive animals.

狗是非常全神貫注的動物。

Notice how whenever you talk to your dog, they look at you as if they're listening.

注意到，每當你和狗狗說話時，牠們都會像在傾聽般地看著你。

You typically don't get that with your cat, guinea pig, or any other house pet.

你一般不會在貓咪、天竺鼠或任何其它家養寵物身上得到這些反應。

Amazingly enough, even monkeys, the animals most similar to humans, won't look at you when you speak.

神奇的是，連跟人類最相近的猴子也不會在你說話時看著你。

Oh, and when dogs tilt their heads and perk up their ears when you're talking to them?

哦，還有在你跟狗狗說話時，牠歪著頭、豎起耳朵的樣子記得嗎？

That's not just for looks; it's them trying to understand what you're saying.

那不僅僅是做表面，是牠們試圖理解你話語的表現。

Wait, I'm anthropomorphizing there; why would a dog do anything "for looks"?

等等，我剛剛做了人格化，狗狗怎麼會為了任何事「做表面」呢？

Now, just because they're trying to understand what you're saying, [it] doesn't necessarily mean that they're interested in discussing the current political climate or what happened between you and Jean at work.

好了，就因為牠們試圖了解你在說什麼，也不一定代表牠們有興趣想討論目前政治情勢或是你和 Jean 工作時發生的事。

A 2018 study out of Emory University found that dogs are most likely listening and responding to us in hopes of making us happy.

埃默里大學 2018 年的一項研究發現，狗是最有可能是因為希望讓我們開心而聆聽或是做出反應。

Or in hopes of getting some food.

或者希望藉此得到一些食物。

But that doesn't mean they don't understand or don't have their own language that they like to be spoken to in.

但這不代表牠們不了解或是沒有自己喜歡被給予對話的語言。

A study from the University of York in England learned that talking to your dog with dog-directed speech and dog-related words is the best way to speak to them.

英國約克大學的一項研究得知，用針對狗的語言和與狗有關的詞彙是跟牠們對話的最佳方式。

In other words, asking your dog, "Hey, boy, wanna go for a walk?" is much more appealing to them than saying, "I picked up groceries."

換句話說，問狗狗「嘿，小男孩，要出去散步嗎？」比起說「我剛買了雜貨」對牠們更有吸引力。

Here's the thing, though, you can't just trick them and talk about picking up groceries in a high-pitched tone and then expect your dog to get all excited.

但問題是，你不能欺騙牠們，用高亢的語氣講雜貨的事，然後期望狗狗變得非常興奮。

The study concluded that you have to use both dog speech and dog-related words for it to work.

該研究結論是，你必須同時使用狗的語言和狗相關詞語才能發揮作用。

Although it may seem obvious, the study found that talking like this is the best way to get your dog to listen to you.

雖然這看似明顯，但研究發現，像這樣說話是讓狗狗聽你說話的最好方法。

What's less obvious is that talking this way creates a stronger bond between you and your pet.

不太明顯的是，這樣講話也在你和寵物之間建立了更強的聯繫。

So, if you're someone who talks to your dog as if you're talking to a baby, you're doing it right!

所以說，如果你是一個像跟嬰兒講話般地對狗狗說話的人，你就做對了！

And if you don't, you should probably start.

而如果你沒這麼做，你也許應該開始。

Another tip for all you dog owners out there: listen to your dog.

給所有狗主人的另一個建議是：聆聽狗狗的聲音。

The length, strength, and pitch of your dog's barking can tell you so many things about your little buddy, and help the two of you communicate better.

狗狗吠叫的長度、強度和音調可以告訴你關於這個小夥伴的許多事情，幫助你們倆更好地溝通。

We'll see you next time on another "according to science".

我們在下一集《according to science》見。