This study is an interesting look at the interactions we have in relation to and on behalf of our animals. The article, “Talking the Dog: Framing Pets as Interactional Resources in Family Discourse,” is published in Research on Language and Social Interaction. Here, linguistics professor Deborah Tannen examines how two families facilitate communication by speaking as, to, or about their pet dogs. Using six interactions from tape-recorded family conversations, Tannen shows how people use their dogs as resources to teach lessons to children, convey anger and trigger apologies, diminish arguments by inserting humor, and reinforce family bonds. For example, in one situation, a mother gently chastises her young child for not picking up his toys by pretending to speak as the family dog, who declares that he is not as “naughty” as the child. In another, a husband complains about his wife neglecting to tell him about something by asking the dog why she didn’t do so.

The author concludes that interactions between family members and their pets are complicated and often accomplish “multiple intertwined and overlaid interactive feats.” She also notes, as many pet owners will attest, that people also speak with and for their dogs for another important reason: to position them as beloved family members.