272 Warmth in the Old Days (1/2)

Chapter 272: Warmth in the Old Days

Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Upon hearing this declaration from Richard, Zhang Zian was quite dumbfounded. He had been wondering why Richard cared so much about teaching the red-headed lovebirds to speak. It turns out that it was not just trying to help Guo Dongyue—Richard was very much concerned with the expression ”repeating others’ words like a parrot”, and it seemed to be taking this opportunity to prove that parrots can do more than just repeat words.

Of course, Richard could have its ambition, which was worth encouraging. The problem was — did it have enough time? It was hard to predict the rate of Guo Dongyue's mother's condition, which could quickly deteriorate at any time.

Time would wait for no man, and no bird.

Richard seemed to have seen through his suspicions, and it said with confidence, ”Do you know about the relationship between language and memory?”

”That I do not know about. Language and memory are related?” Hearing the word ”memory”, Zhang Zian’s heart leapt, and he couldn’t help but think of Guo's mom’s conditions.

”Of course they are related.” Richard raised its head and suddenly became a little bit sad, as if it was reminiscing on something that had happened long ago. ”The brain is the most wonderful organ in a creature’s body and there are still many unsolved mysteries about brains. Patients suffering with Alzheimer’s disease will lose their short-term memories at first, then their long-term memories, but why won’t they forget about their language abilities?”

Zhang Zian thought carefully. Having a bit of a clue, he said, ”I think language is a skill, just like riding a bike. Once you’ve mastered such skills, you will never forget them, right?”

”No. In essence, language is also a kind of memory, but a more profound one than long-term memory.” Richard denied his conjecture, ”There is a positive correlation between speaking and language memory—the more you speak and the more you hear others speak every day, the more your language memory will be strengthened accordingly—which is why language memory lasts longer than any other kind of memory, and why people will never lose their language memory until they are dead—unless they get aphasia. But it’s not that they have forgotten their ability to speak, aphasiacs just have forgotten how to extract language from their brains…”

Zhang Zian was getting increasingly confused, ”What is your point?”

”Nothing. Those are just my feelings when I think of that elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease.” Richard was in a despondent mood and shook its head, ”Let’s get back to talking about what you need to do.”

”OK, tell me, I’m listening.”

”Judging from the current situation, the quickest way to train the birds to speak requires the cooperation of two people, say, you and I.” It pointed at Zhang Zian with its wings, and then pressed its wings on its own chest.

Zhang Zian suppressed his urge to point out that Richard was a bird rather than a human. It didn’t make sense to dwell on that.