>>56757629if memory serves me correctly, it's early anime shenanigans mixed with some decent lore. apparently, pokemon have to be of a very high intellect to learn how to speak, and it's the same as learning an attack.(the "idiots are hard to hypnotise" scene comes to mind)
the only battle moves meowth can use are fury swipes and I THINK pay day, all because the rest of his talent/skills/whatever are being used by this ability to speak. not to mention, the only reason meowth CAN speak, is probably due to the anime being less set-in-stone at the start of the series, so wacky shit like that could happen.
TLDR: Meowth as a species have high intellect combined with early anime shenanigans allowing it to happen. this means that, if they wanted to, pokemon like alakazam could 100% speak english. it's just not really worth doing due to the strain it can cause for pokemon.
