Pokémon language

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Pokémon language (Japanese: 語 language) is the medium by which Pokémon communicate in the anime.

Communication


Cry

Most Pokémon communicate with their cry, their cry usually being their own name. However, even though their cries are unique to their species, different Pokémon are able to understand each other, whether they're in a tag battle or just playing together. Easily recognized moments of this happening is seen between Ash's Pikachu and Dawn's Piplup, such as in Arceus and the Jewel of Life, when the two communicated so they could save their owners. it was originally thought that their cries remained the same whatever they were saying, but dedicated fans have realized that Ash's Pikachu uses different phrases when saying different things, like 'Piiika-Chuuuuuuuu' when using Thunderbolt or 'Pika-Pikachu' when saying its name. This is the same with Dawn's Piplup, such as 'Piplup-lup-lup' when using Bubblebeam, or 'Pipluurrrp' when using Whirlpool, the 'lup' becoming distinctly watery. Team Rocket's Meowth is an exception of this, as he is only able to speak in the human language - yet he is still able to understand the language of Pokémon, making him a useful translator.

Human language

A very rare number of Pokémon are able to understand and speak the human language. The most well-known talking Pokémon is Team Rocket's Meowth, who relentlessly learnt English to impress his love, Meowzie. But other Pokémon are able to speak English as well, such as the Gastly in Ghost of Maiden's Peak and the Slowking in The Power of One. In some Pokédex entries, it mentions how the Pokémon are able to understand human comprehension, but it seems that all Pokémon understand humans as well as the next one.

File:Meowth.png
Mouthy Meowth



Other means of communication

Telepathy

Many Pokémon, mainly Template:Type2s, interact with humans via telepathy. For instance, the Ralts in Do I Hear a Ralts? telepathically called Max to help her - though, she may have been crying out for anyone, and Max was the only one that heard, which makes him similar to a Psychic. Most of the Talking Pokémon speak telepathically, such as Zorua in Ruler of Illusions: Zoroark. Many Legendary Pokémon are able to do this as well.

Possession

Some Pokémon have been able to speak telepathically through a person or another Pokémon. It is wondered why some Pokémon do this instead of just speaking directly. A Gastly and a Haunter spoke through Meowth in A Shipful of Shivers, and Meowth was used again by Deoxys in Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys Crisis! (Part 1) and Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys Crisis! (Part 2). Coincidentally, Meowth was used both times, most likely because he is able to speak English.

Illusion

There is only one time of this happening. The Ninetales from Just Waiting On A Friend created an illusion called Lokoko through which it spoke.

Latias or Bianca?


Shape-shifting

The Latias in Pokémon Heroes was able to shape-shift into Bianca, a girl that she had befriended. She was able to communicate as Bianca, or at least seem to be human.

Partnership

It seems that an experienced or empathic trainer is able to communicate quite fluently with their Pokémon, if only intuitively. Ash is able to do this, as seen in Saving the World From Ruins! when he understood that Pikachu was persuading him to let him use Thunderbolt to help Riley's Lucario.

File:Ash and his Pikachu.png
Ash and Pikachu's Bond


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