whoever

[chrysanthemum]

This animal (goose) mates for life and will bond permanently with whoever spends time with it when it is young.
Does this whoever refer to another goose or a human? Can we use whoever for animals too?

[5jj]

I have a vague memory, perhaps from Konrad Lorenz, that ducks and geese will bond with any person or animal that spends time with it when it is young. We do not normally use 'whoever' for animals, and the original sentence is unclear. It would be clearer if written as I have written it in my underlined words.

[BobK]

I have a vague memory, perhaps from Konrad Lorenz, that ducks and geese will bond with any person or animal that spends time with it when it is young. We do not normally use 'whoever' for animals, and the original sentence is unclear. It would be clearer if written as I have written it in my underlined words.

I believe it's called 'imprinting'. Wikipedia beckons...

b

PS Yes, Lorenz was there - not the first, but one of the academics who popularized it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imprint...8psychology%29