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From: gwills@graceland.att.com (11265-Graham Wills)
Subject: Re: Alien translation
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Date: Mon, 18 Dec 1995 15:29:44 GMT
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Michael <Michael@biohazad.demon.co.uk> writes:

>>In the above example it would take a while for them to notice there is
>>no correlation between body posture and item. They might then look at smell,
>>touch and eventually sound to find out what's going on.

>What if the Aliens are deaf?  Of can only hear frequencys above human
>sound; like dog wisals.

 Then they do as we do; they employ technological artifacts to discern them.
 Ever heard whale song? No - you've heard a technological rendering of whale
 song. Given a scientific method, adequate tecnology and enough time, it
 would be a reasonably easy task to teach aliens our language.

 Of course, it might be impossible for aliens to talk to us directly, but
 some form of signalling seems almost certain to be achievable. Personally
 I think sending them a copy of every book in print for children would be
 enough for a race at least as technologically advanced as us.

-Graham Wills
--
Graham Wills		     Data Visualization / Software Research (11265)
gwills@research.att.com      AT&T Bell Laboratories, Indian Hill, Naperville IL
  			      
