Story of Your Life
• How do the aliens’ language and communication styles in the story differ from human language (oral, pictographic, phonetic, etc.)?
In the novella “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang, the aliens’ language, Heptapod B, differs significantly from human languages in several ways:
1. Nonlinear Structure: Heptapod B is written in a nonlinear, semasiographic script. This means that it doesn’t follow a linear progression like human languages, which are typically spoken or read in a linear sequence. Instead, Heptapod B can convey the entire meaning of a sentence or thought all at once, which allows for a more holistic understanding of events.
2. Simultaneous Comprehension: Heptapod B enables simultaneous comprehension of past, present, and future events. This allows those who understand the language to have a heightened awareness of the interconnectedness of time and events, which is quite different from human languages that rely on chronological order.
3. Circular Symbols: Heptapod B is written with circular symbols that lack a clear beginning or end. This reflects the non-linearity of their perception of time. Human languages use linear scripts with distinct starting and ending points.
4. Logograms: Heptapod B primarily consists of logograms, which are symbols that represent whole words or concepts rather than individual sounds or letters. Human languages, on the other hand, often use phonetic alphabets or syllabic scripts.
5. Complex Syntax: The structure of Heptapod B allows for complex sentence construction with layers of meaning that can be unpacked simultaneously. Human languages tend to have simpler, sequential syntax.
• How does the physical structure of our body inform the way we communicate? How about the aliens?
In “Story of Your Life,” the physical structure of the human body significantly informs the way humans communicate. This is due to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which suggests that the language a person speaks shapes their perception of reality. In the story, learning Heptapod B, the alien language, begins to reshape the protagonist Louise Banks’ perception of time and reality.
As Louise Banks learns Heptapod B and becomes more proficient in it, she starts to experience “the Sapir-Whorf effect” firsthand. Her understanding of time becomes non-linear, similar to the Heptapods, which is reflected in the way she communicates and thinks. This change in her perception of time influences her communication style, allowing her to express complex thoughts and concepts with a deep awareness of their interconnectedness.
The aliens, the Heptapods, have a radically different physical structure than humans, which also informs their unique mode of communication. Their bodies have seven limbs and they communicate using a semasiographic script that doesn’t rely on sound, unlike human oral communication. This non-human physical structure and mode of communication play a crucial role in how they perceive time and reality, as well as how they interact with the world.
In summary, both the human characters and the alien Heptapods in “Story of Your Life” demonstrate how the physical structure of their bodies informs their modes of communication and perception of reality, which is a central theme of the novella.