- How are the aliens’ language and communication style in the story different from human language (oral, pictographic, phonetic, etc.)?
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- The hetapods make sounds according to different principles of vocalization, so people cannot fully imitate their oral language.
- The language system:The hetapods own two systems of language-Hetapod A referring to the spoken language, and Hetapod B strictly for referring to the writing system.In human language, speech and writing are in close correspondence.
- Linearity: The hetapods’ language is non-linear, with all meanings and messages mixed together in the formulation of words, phrases and sentences, and the words forms are indivisible.
- Thought patterns: The hetapods are thinking and organizing their language in a purposive, almost teleological way, which means knowing everything that will be written before writing, choosing the process from the known result. Human beings are commonly thinking in a causal pattern.
- How does the physical structure of our body inform the way we communicate? How about the aliens?
In terms of conveying meanings, humans simply signify through limb postures; vocalize through the vocal cords and verbalize words; and visually convey information by writing and drawing words, symbols, and images. In terms of receiving and processing information , humans hear by ear, see by eye, and use other sense organs to receive information and transmit it to the brain for analysis and processing.
The hetapods, whose body is radially symmetric, use seven limbs to sense the surroundings, and seven eyes ringed to see. The hetapods vibrate puckered orifices at the top of the bodies to “talk”.