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Alien language: If we met extraterrestrials, could we talk to them? - BBC Future

www.bbc.com Alien language: If we met extraterrestrials, could we talk to them?

Alien lifeforms are likely to have evolved their own unique ways of communicating, so how might humanity communicate with them if ever make contact?

Alien language: If we met extraterrestrials, could we talk to them?
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  • If the core system used were not significantly different than humans, then likely yes (even if our anatomy didn't allow us to speak to them, we could have a shared communication system).

    The core system here is Saussure's idea of sign and signifier, ultimately. The medium doesn't matter nearly as much.

    • Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir does a great job at hypothesizing a first interaction like this.

      • Good lord I love that book.

        I really like that he recognized that you'll have 2 beings both motivated to understand each other. The back and forth communication, along with some coding skills, made good progress pretty quick.

        • Did you do the paperback, or the audiobook? The audiobook was enhanced with some neat audio tricks for Rocky. It was a fabulous read.

          • Just the Kindle version, although now I want to make my wife listen to the audiobook version lol.

            • You’ll love it even the second time around. It’s a great production.

29 comments