You don't really have to. Pokemon can always learn moves from different types, so you can cover your advantages that way. Personally, I just catch things that I like. [Don't feel bad Kyo, all the ones that he's caught or bought himself have been normal or ghost types. Everything else was given to him or a memento of someone who left.]

But yes, they speak actual human language. Not just the usual stuff that we can't understand. I don't know if they can all do it, but her Espeon and another friend of mine's Alakazam do. It's crazy but it's useful too. I wish I could understand mine. [Not that it...stops him from talking to them.]