Parseltongue--other languages

[mnemosyne337]

No: HPFGUIDX 124643



Hi everyone! I've been pondering this for a while, and sorry if this 
has already been discussed and dissected. :)  

Harry can talk to snakes.  He is a Parselmouth, and so is 
Voldemort.  We know this is supposed to be an extremely rare 
ability, and is also associated with dark wizards.  But the fact is, 
other wizards besides Harry and Voldemort have/had the ability to 
speak to snakes (like Salazar, for instance).

My question is: Is it only snakes?

I don't believe there are any other references to wizards being able 
to communicate with other animals (point me in the right direction 
if I'm wrong!).  

In COS, Harry says, upon Ron's incredulous reaction to Harry freely 
admiting his ability to speak to snakes, "So? I Bet loads of people 
here can do it."  Ron replies with, "Oh, no they can't. It's not a 
very common gift. Harry, this is bad."

They only mention the ability to talk to snakes, no other creature. 
Is it possible there are wizards with the ability to talk to, say, 
birds? cats? mice?  If so, is it commonplace but not associated with 
dark magic?  Or is it rare like parseltongue, perhaps even more 
rare, but seen as so unharmful that it isn't a big deal?

I thought, if such abilities exist, Ron might have replied with 
something along of the lines of "If you could talk to mice, it'd be 
rare no big deal. But snakes..."

If some wizards can talk to snakes, why shouldn't some be able to 
talk to other animals as well?  What would be so special about 
snakes that would limit the communication link to them?  Also, you'd 
think if some wizards could talk to cows and chickens, there'd be 
more vegetarianism in the WW.

Hmm, this turned out longer than I'd expected. And more rambly. ;)

~mnemosyne