Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

have shown for the first time that the law of brevity in human language, according to which the most frequently-used words tend to be the shortest, also extends to other animal species. The scientists have shown that dolphins are more likely to make simpler movements at the water surface.

I can't comment on the science. To me it seems pretty clear that most living things try to run a pretty lean operation. Most seem lazy even. OK, clearly the hummingbird and the border collie are exceptions. Nevertheless, we are not trees of Tolkien's fantasy And, happily, Ents are fictional. I am pleased to learn that dolphins are not as hopelessly stupid as the scientists thought.
Goodbye and thanks for all the fish.

So I lied in the topic. So shoot me.