Alien language: Difference between revisions
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⚫ | [[science fiction]] occurred in 1986, in the novel "Triad" by [[Sheila Finch]] ({{Cite book|title = Triad|last = Finch|first = Sheila|publisher = Spectra|year = 1986|isbn = 9780553257922 |location = New York}} New edition: {{Cite book|title = Triad |last = Finch|first = Sheila|publisher = [[Wildside Press]]|year = 2012|isbn = 9781434447913 |location = Rockville, Maryland}}.</ref> or [[astrolinguistics]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Daniels|first=Peter T. |authorlink=Peter T. Daniels |title=Aliens And Linguists (Book Review)|journal=Library Journal |volume=105 |issue=13|year=1980|page=1516}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Schirber|first=Michael|date=October 2008|title=Use grammar to decipher alien tongues|journal=New Scientist|language=en|volume=200|issue=2678|pages=12|doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(08)62599-3}}</ref> The question of what form alien languages might take and the possibility for humans to recognize and translate them has been part of the [[linguistics]] and language studies courses, e.g., at the [[Bowling Green State University]] (2001).<ref name=wells1>[http://personal.bgsu.edu/~swellsj/xenolinguistics/ Course notes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726062353/http://personal.bgsu.edu/~swellsj/xenolinguistics/ |date=2019-07-26 }} by assistant professor [http://personal.bgsu.edu/~swellsj/ Sheri Wells-Jensen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108010703/http://personal.bgsu.edu/~swellsj/xenolinguistics/ |date=2018-01-08 }}, [[Bowling Green State University]] (retrieved June 19, 2017)</ref> |
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{{short description|Hypothetical non-Earth language}} |
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{{for multi|the study related to human-constructed interstellar languages|Astrolinguistics|different languages on Earth|foreign language}} |
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[[Noam Chomsky]] (1983), starting with his hypothesis of a genetically-predetermined [[universal grammar]] of human languages, held that it would be impossible for a human to naturally learn an alien language because it would most probably violate the universal grammar inborn in humans. Humans would have to study an alien language by the slow way of discovery, the same way as scientists do research in, say, physics.<ref>{{cite interview |url=https://chomsky.info/198311__/ |title=Things No Amount of Learning Can Teach |first=Noam |last=Chomsky |authorlink=Noam Chomsky |interviewer=John Gliedman |work=[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]] |volume=6:11 |date=November 1983 |access-date=June 19, 2017 }}</ref> |
[[Noam Chomsky]] (1983), starting with his hypothesis of a genetically-predetermined [[universal grammar]] of human languages, held that it would be impossible for a human to naturally learn an alien language because it would most probably violate the universal grammar inborn in humans. Humans would have to study an alien language by the slow way of discovery, the same way as scientists do research in, say, physics.<ref>{{cite interview |url=https://chomsky.info/198311__/ |title=Things No Amount of Learning Can Teach |first=Noam |last=Chomsky |authorlink=Noam Chomsky |interviewer=John Gliedman |work=[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]] |volume=6:11 |date=November 1983 |access-date=June 19, 2017 }}</ref> |
Revision as of 01:45, 20 October 2022
science fiction occurred in 1986, in the novel "Triad" by Sheila Finch (Finch, Sheila (1986). Triad. New York: Spectra. ISBN 9780553257922. New edition: Finch, Sheila (2012). Triad. Rockville, Maryland: Wildside Press. ISBN 9781434447913..</ref> or astrolinguistics.[1][2] The question of what form alien languages might take and the possibility for humans to recognize and translate them has been part of the linguistics and language studies courses, e.g., at the Bowling Green State University (2001).[3]
Noam Chomsky (1983), starting with his hypothesis of a genetically-predetermined universal grammar of human languages, held that it would be impossible for a human to naturally learn an alien language because it would most probably violate the universal grammar inborn in humans. Humans would have to study an alien language by the slow way of discovery, the same way as scientists do research in, say, physics.[4]
Linguist Keren Rice posits that basic communication between humans and aliens should be possible, unless "the things that we think are common to languages—situating in time [and] space, talking about participants, etc.—are so radically different that the human language provides no starting point for it."[5]
Jessica Coon, a professor of linguistics at McGill University, was consulted for the linguistic aspect of the 2016 film Arrival. While acknowledging that the graphical language in the film was art without linguistic meaning, she stated that the film was a fairly accurate portrayal of the approach human linguists would use in trying to understand an alien language.[6]
Solomon W. Golomb posited that in order to gain the ability to build radio transmitters or other devices capable of interstellar communication, or any other technology beyond the most rudimentary tools, knowledge must be accumulated over the course of many generations. Golomb further reasoned that since this requires that those who have learned knowledge from others can keep passing it on even after those who originally created the knowledge are dead, any beings capable of building civilizations must have an innate understanding that information retains its meaning no matter who utters it, and not block information out based on the generation of the messenger or deeming the same words acceptable or unacceptable depending on who utters them. It was held by Golomb that this ability, by being a necessary condition for accumulating information into culture in the first place, must be innate as something that is needed to form culture from the beginning cannot be an effect of culture. Golomb argued that this would create a common linguistic ground assisting humans with this ability in learning extraterrestrial languages.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Daniels, Peter T. (1980). "Aliens And Linguists (Book Review)". Library Journal. 105 (13): 1516.
- ^ Schirber, Michael (October 2008). "Use grammar to decipher alien tongues". New Scientist. 200 (2678): 12. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(08)62599-3.
- ^ Course notes Archived 2019-07-26 at the Wayback Machine by assistant professor Sheri Wells-Jensen Archived 2018-01-08 at the Wayback Machine, Bowling Green State University (retrieved June 19, 2017)
- ^ Chomsky, Noam (November 1983). "Things No Amount of Learning Can Teach". Omni (Interview). Vol. 6:11. Interviewed by John Gliedman. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
- ^ Uyeno, Greg (September 2, 2016). "Alien Interpreters: How Linguists Would Talk to Extraterrestrials". Scientific American. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
- ^ Lubin, Gus (21 November 2016). "'Arrival' nails how humans might actually talk to aliens, a linguist says". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
- ^ Solomon W. Golomb (1968). "Extraterrestrial Linguistics"