Aliens in the story use language differently to communicate differs from human language because they are built differently in anatomy. For example, they have a different oral, pictographic, and phonetic systems. One example is how humans typically use word to communicate, however, aliens must go through a phase of translation between flutters in order to interpret their meaning. In addition, aliens also communicate through sounds that the human auditory system cannot distinguish or reproduce. Because the verbal language is not understood between the two species, they must use different means such as body language.
The physical structure between humans and aliens also differ which affects the way our body informs and communicate. One example shown in the text is the physical anatomy of an alien. Humans have two legs that we walk on and two arms while the alien has “four legs, three non-adjacent arms curled up at its sides..limbs had no distinct joints…it’s “torso” rise atop the rippling limbs as smoothly as a hovercraft…seven lidless eyes ringed the top of the hetapod’s body” (Chiang 5). This description shows the fluidity in movement of the hetapods where as humans must each joints individually due to its anatomy. Due to this, the movements between the two may signify different actions which is evident through the flutters. Each action between the humans and aliens must be translated before they understand the same action is being done. Another example of communication through humans is eye contact whereas the aliens have eyes on all sides which makes it hard to tell which direction they are looking at.