LogFAQs > #975428492

Lopen posted...

I'm not convinced they fully understand human language. They understand the names of their attacks. Dogs and cats can do that too they're called tricks.

This again depends on whether you're basing it on the anime or the games, but in the anime they definitely understand more than just the names of attacks. Even just in the context of battles, they understand precise details being given to them on how and where to use their attacks or how they should dodge.

And even if they don't fully understand human language specifically, they still are fully capable of talking to each other in Pokemon language. Just watching the episode where they're stranded on the island of giant robots is enough to know they're sapient creatures.

But yes, I don't think the games go as far in terms of making them as intelligent.