Pokémon language
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Pokémon language is the medium by which Pokémon communicate in the anime.
Cry
Most Pokémon communicate with 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. Also, there have been episodes where the cries have been translated because the storyline of that episode is centred around the Pokémon and is necessary to understand what is going on, for example EP017. 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. Meowth of Team Rocket 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
Very few Pokémon are able to understand and speak the human language. The most well-known talking Pokémon is Team Rocket's Meowth, who relentlessly learned English to impress his love, Meowzie. But other Pokémon are able to speak human language as well, such as the Gastly in The 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.
Other means of communication
Telepathy
Many Pokémon, mainly Psychic-type Pokémon, interact with humans via telepathy. For instance, in Do I Hear a Ralts?, a Ralts telepathically called Max to help her; however, she may have been crying out for anyone, but Max was the only one that heard it. Most talking Pokémon speak telepathically, such as the Zorua in Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Many legendary Pokémon are able to do this as well.
Partnership
It seems that an experienced or empathic Trainer is able to communicate quite fluently with their Pokémon, if only intuitively. In Saving the World From Ruins!, Ash understood that Pikachu wanted to use Thunderbolt to help Riley's Lucario.
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. In A Shipful of Shivers, a Gastly and Haunter spoke through Meowth as well as in Pokémon Ranger - Deoxys' Crisis! Part 1 and 2, when a Deoxys spoke though him as well.
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 seems to be human.
Illusion
In Just Waiting On a Friend, a Ninetales created an illusion called Lokoko that it spoke through.
