Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Exploring Extraterrestrial Language
PsychologyToday ^ | Natalie Schilling

Posted on 04/08/2026 8:59:48 AM PDT by BenLurkin

It may seem surprising that researchers could study a phenomenon for which we don’t yet have any data—after all, there are no verified accounts of conversations with aliens. But there are good reasons to consider what alien languages might look like.

For one... human languages have far more in common than we might think. A universal grammar underlies what turn out to be mostly surface differences.

[A]ll languages use a finite number of sounds (or gestures in the case of signed languages) and phrase types (like noun phrases and verb phrases) to build a theoretically limitless number of unique communications, from text messages to philosophical treatises.

Humans are also able to communicate not only about the physical world but about things beyond our immediate senses, such as the past, the future, and imagined alien worlds.

And human languages are passed down from parent to child. They’re cultural inventions, not instinctive behaviors.

...

Real-life scientists seeking communication with extraterrestrials, like those working with METI, the international research effort for Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, know that interpreting alien languages is likely to be a far more complicated matter than science fiction would have us believe.

Some speculate that alien languages might be so different from any of our own that we might not even recognize them as language when we see them, let alone be able to understand or answer them. Beings whose brains and bodies are vastly different from our own will probably structure language quite differently and convey it via different channels, perhaps magnetic fields, odors, or even telepathy.

(Excerpt) Read more at psychologytoday.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: astronomy; epigraphyandlanguage; science; seti; xplanets
Message from Jim Robinson:

Dear FRiends,

We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.

If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you,

Jim


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

1 posted on 04/08/2026 8:59:48 AM PDT by BenLurkin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

“It may seem surprising that researchers could study a phenomenon for which we don’t yet have any data...”

https://www.lerctr.org/~transit/healy/Uh_Yeah.mp3


2 posted on 04/08/2026 9:00:23 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

BEWARE! They end all sentences with a preposition!!


3 posted on 04/08/2026 9:03:03 AM PDT by Mr. K (no i think 10%consequence of repealing obamacare is worse than obamacare itself.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
convey it via different channels, perhaps magnetic fields, odors, or even telepathy.

Or even sight...


4 posted on 04/08/2026 9:04:46 AM PDT by fruser1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

How do you say “ hold my beer” in extraterrestrial ?


5 posted on 04/08/2026 9:07:12 AM PDT by rdcbn1 (..when poets buy guns, tourist season is over................Walter R. Mead)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mr. K

6 posted on 04/08/2026 9:07:34 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

7 posted on 04/08/2026 9:09:18 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

ACK! ACK! ACK!
ACKACKACK! aCK ACK


8 posted on 04/08/2026 9:11:19 AM PDT by READINABLUESTATE (‘Never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals’)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

9 posted on 04/08/2026 9:19:19 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Klaatu barada nikto


10 posted on 04/08/2026 9:20:18 AM PDT by I want the USA back (America is once again GREAT! Blue Lives Matter! White lives matter. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

11 posted on 04/08/2026 9:26:47 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

“Shirley, Shirley, Bo Berry
Banana-Fanna, Mo Mary
Fee Fie Fo, Fairy
Shirley!”

Let’s do ‘Lincoln!’


12 posted on 04/08/2026 9:31:20 AM PDT by lee martell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

E.T phone home.


13 posted on 04/08/2026 9:31:25 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Opinionated Blowhard

14 posted on 04/08/2026 9:32:53 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Mr. K

Try Ebonics


15 posted on 04/08/2026 9:36:57 AM PDT by bwest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: fruser1

Let’s get back to communicating with magnetic fields with them. I’ll shout at 5 Tesla to make sure they understand me.


16 posted on 04/08/2026 9:38:04 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Dept. of Education should teach about Nietzsche: DOGE didn't kill it and now it's stronger than ever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: lee martell

Don’t call me Shirley


17 posted on 04/08/2026 9:38:06 AM PDT by bwest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Marklar.


18 posted on 04/08/2026 9:43:18 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I am groot!


19 posted on 04/08/2026 9:48:13 AM PDT by brownsfan (We are already on the slippery slope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Fist my bump ;)


20 posted on 04/08/2026 9:50:54 AM PDT by CraigEsq (,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-37 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson