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Looks pretty one-sided but there only 12 total votes. Not that it matters, but I'm voting #1 because I'd normally want to strangle someone if I saw them 'speaking' Animal. As it stands now, the helpfile will be reflecting that it's been defined as an extraordinary ability which can be both understood and spoken by players. Still, keep in mind that normal animals only understand simple words/orders and having an intellectual conversation with a normal animal shouldn't really be happening (having this language doesn't increase the animal you're talking to's Int score. ). Thanks for voting!

I voted for the first option (basic understanding) because the concept of every animal in the game having the necessary higher intelligence and reasoning to understand (or develop?!) their own language just boggles my mind, man.

Enig wrote:I voted for the first option (basic understanding) because the concept of every animal in the game having the necessary higher intelligence and reasoning to understand (or develop?!) their own language just boggles my mind, man.

About nearly all animals have an intelligence of 2.

That's why ICly people have to stick to basic things with the animal language (feeling like fear, hungry, angry, ... action like attack, eat, sleep...)
Be it an extraordinary ability, I think it only allows to translate in 'animal language' basic actions and feelings an animal can understand

El.

From PHB 3.5ed : Speak with animals (spell)
You can comprehend and communicate with animals. You are able to ask questions and receive answert from animals, although the spell doesn't make them any more friendly or cooperative than normal. Furthermore, wary and cunning animals are likely to be terse and evasive, while the more stupid ones make insane comments. If an animal is friendly toward you, it may do some favor or service for you.

Which pretty resumes what I think the "animal" language is about, and this is the spell-like ability gnome receives as free once per day concerning burrow mammals (and the innate ability gnomes received as permantent in 2nd ed)

I'm months late on this thread but I figure I'm not the only one who doesn't keep track of things on the forum and ends up late for everything.

After reading many of the comments and reasoning, I think there should be a change with the animal tongue language. FR correctness aside, I think, as was formally stated, that the tongue should be changed more to a matter of signals and not the whole says bit. Also made me realised that I had been rping this tongue wrong from the get go and why animal minions are not scripted to speak in the animal tongue. It would make far more sense to change the language to portray body language to get one's point across. It's universal between all animals which would make way more sense as to how you can have a conversation (metaphorically speaking) with a cat and a bird with one set tongue.

I cast my vote for speaking to and understanding animals. However, only if it was done in the use of body language and not actually speaking in the animal's language. So no barking, bird song, or meows. Simple body language as it is possible to speak to and understand an animal through that system and, like I said, its universal so using it on multiple creatures makes sense. If you wanted to you could add in understanding animal's growls, calls, ect but only by the tones. Like knowing the difference between an animal's distress call and a greeting call not so much 100% understanding the words but instead understanding the meaning of it.