Dear Ann Landers,
ou can print this letter just as I am writing it because everyone in town already knows about it anyway. Our neighbors have a parrot named Plato. This parrot is so smart it is frightening. When Plato rattles off radio and TV commercials he sounds just like the announcers. His Edward P. Morgan imitation is the greatest. The other eve-ning our neighbors had a party. The guests gathered to listen to Plato do his routine. Suddenly Plato shrieked, "Bemie cheats on his wife. Bemie cheats on his wife." Bemie is my husband, and I didn't think it was funny. All the guests roared. Do parrots know what they are saying or do they just pick up phrases and repeat them? I've heard a variety of opinions, and I'd appreciate an answer from you.-Standing By

Dear Standing By,
Parrots do not know what they are saying. They imitate sounds. I suspect this is a well-rehearsed gag, and if I were you, I'd forget about it.