My experience with Alfie is that he will learn whatever he wants to learn. 😂 He DOES talk but he prefers noises and whistles more- always has. He always prefers male voices so tends to pick up phrases said by males more often than females.
He does seem to be practicing his talking more these days though and he'll be 16 years old mid April. I often hear him muttering away to himself in different voices- but only when I'm out of the way. I have no idea what he's trying to say.
He loves any loud obnoxious noises and will learn those as soon as he hears them... and repeat them often with gusto!