Really?

I think we should ask, what is the meaning of "learning the meaning of words".
If this means learning in which situation which combination of sounds is appropriate, that's not very difficult. But does a parrot understand that there are such things as "words" and "meanings" (and so on) in the (human) world, and how it all works and fits together? I guess not, but maybe I would have to be a parrot to answer this question.

­"I would have to be a parrot to answer this question." :)

But, to be frank, I would prefere to be a squirrel. :)
(I love hazelnuts.)

Maybe I was a parrot in a previous life. Irene Pepperberg had a parrot called Alex.
Look here! ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_(parrot)

"Before Pepperberg's work with Alex, it was widely believed in the scientific community that a large primate brain was needed to handle complex problems related to language and understanding; birds were not considered to be intelligent as their only common use of communication was of mimicking and the repetition of sounds to interact with each other. However, Alex's accomplishments supported the idea that birds may be able to reason on a basic level and use words creatively. Pepperberg wrote that Alex's intelligence was on a par with that of dolphins and great apes. She also reported that Alex had the intelligence of a five-year-old human and had not even reached his full potential by the time he died. She said that the bird had the emotional level of a human two-year-old at the time of his death." (Wikipedia)

Thank you for the compliments (and for the always delicious food), Irene! :)
Alex

PS.:
In gratitude, I've promised not to comment on IRENE'S intelligence and emotional level. ☺

Some in the scientific community are skeptical of Pepperberg's findings.

If you were a parrot, maybe you also were the pet of a famous pirate in one of your past lives. :)

"Some in the scientific community are skeptical of Pepperberg's findings."
But I will keep my promise at any rate. ☺

Sometimes a picture tells more than words!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wik...the_Parrot.jpg
Alex, the parrot, thinking: "Holy shit! What does it all mean???"

Smart parrot: https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a8_a...00/funny+d.jpg

Irene + her new parrot: http://youtu.be/ozgcKw4MyvY

Wikipedia: "Pepperberg reported that during times when she and an assistant were having a conversation and made mistakes, Alex would correct them."

Exactly the same thing is always happening at Tatoeba, isn't it? :D

It must have been you. :)

Irene should have spoken Esperanto to her parrot. I wonder whether the results would have been better. :)

Maybe... Well, at least she didn't try to teach it German
:D

A parrot speaking Esperanto (beginners level ☺): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztj7iYpWCNQ

☺ saluton Chiqui

Saluton, Hibrido!

Parto 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y_nqOqY1dg

Ni estas amikoj.

Jes, ni du estas amikoj.

Mi kaj vi
pli kaj pli
du amikoj estas ni

( We two are friends.

Yes, we two are friends.

Me and you
more and more
two friends we are)

Kison mi donis al vi,
ĉar mi ŝatas vin.
Ĉu vi ŝatas min?

(I gave you a kiss
because I like you.
Do you like me?)

He's so cute! ☺ (Kiel beleta li estas!)

Der ist echt süß! ☺