Parseltongue--other languages

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 124693


mnemosyne337 wrote:
<snip>
> 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!). <snip>

  
Finwitch replied:
<snip>
> I think that wizards CAN create an understanding with Owls (well,
Harry IS talking to Hedwig, and Hedwig manages to express herself 
understandably). <snip>
> 
> Also, I suppose that animagi CAN communicate with animals (Sirius
did with Crookshanks)

Carol adds:
I think that magical creatures, including magical owls, cats, rats,
and possibly toads, can understand human speech and communicate with
Wizards and even Squibs through looks and actions. (Owls can even,
apparently, *read* the name or address on a letter, or at least
magically understand where and to whom the letter is supposed to be
delivered.) Presumably they can communicate with other animals in an
animal language as well.

But there's no indication that humans can understand or speak an
animal language, with two notable exceptions: Parselmouths can speak
with and understand snakes (and basilisks), and animagi can speak with
and understand various animals. Sirius in dog form can speak with
Crookshanks, a cat/kneazle; Peter Pettigrew in rat form spoke with
rats and (I think) other small animals while he was searching for
Voldemort. And I'm guessing that WPP in their animal forms could
communicate with Moony the werewolf, and he with them. Otherwise they
wouldn't have been able to roam around with him; he'd simply have
attacked them.

Carol, who is behind on posting again and having to skip lots of posts :-(