Is the Portrayal of Aliens in 'Arrival' Accurate for English-Speaking Audiences? Could We Communicate with Them?

The 2016 film Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Eric Heisserer, presents an intriguing exploration of first contact with extraterrestrial beings. The movie engages with complex ideas about language, time, and the nature of communication. However, one of the central questions the film raises is whether a human language would be able to effectively communicate with alien beings if they arrived with their language intact. The key issue in the portrayal of alien language is not merely the way it is encoded, but rather the concepts that it seeks to convey, which may not easily translate to human understanding.

Understanding the Alien Language: Not Just Encoding, But Concepts

The alien language, known as Heptapod B, is non-linear and visually represented on a screen. While its encoding is an important aspect, the real issue lies in the alien's ability to communicate concepts that are fundamentally different from those present in human languages. In 'Arrival', the alien language is designed to be more fluid and conceptually dense, allowing for a more precise and nuanced expression of ideas. Concepts like time, which are inherently linear in human languages, become circular in the alien language, enabling a more holistic understanding of the present, past, and future.

Comparing Human and Alien Languages: Cultural and Conceptual Gaps

Language is not just a tool for conveying specific information but also a reflection of the cultural and conceptual frameworks of the speakers. For instance, many human languages have words for certain concepts that do not have direct equivalents in others. In Arrival, the alien language includes words that would be challenging for humans to express in their native tongue. This highlights a significant barrier in communication when the sender and receiver have drastically different conceptual frameworks.

John Mindel's Understanding of the Alien Language

One of the central characters, Louise Banks (portrayed by Amy Adams), is tasked with understanding the alien language after a group of heptapods land on Earth. Louise, who starts with little knowledge, gradually grapples with the alien language, learning not just its syntax but also its cultural implications. Her journey demonstrates how concepts from the alien language can transform her perception of time and reality. Through Louise's experiences, the film illuminates the importance of cultural and conceptual understanding in effective cross-language communication.

Challenges in Interpreting Alien Language Concepts

The film Arrival uses these concepts to underscore the difficulty of translating alien language to human language. Louise faces numerous challenges in interpreting the alien language, not simply due to syntactic differences, but because many of the concepts present in Heptapod B do not align with human thought processes. For example, alien words that describe phenomena in space or time might be represented symbolically using colors and shapes, which might be confusing to human interpreters. This illustrates the complexity of interstellar communication and the potential for significant misunderstandings or misinterpretations.

Implications for English-Speaking Audiences

For English-speaking audiences, 'Arrival' raises questions about the limitations of our own language and the barriers it might present in a real-world scenario of communication with extraterrestrial beings. The film suggests that our language, heavily influenced by our cultural and temporal frameworks, might not be the most effective tool for communicating with an alien race with fundamentally different concepts and ways of perceiving the world. This reflection on language and communication serves as a cautionary tale and a thought-provoking exploration of the potential challenges in first contact scenarios.

Conclusion

In the face of the challenges presented by alien communication, 'Arrival' invites viewers to consider the limitations and possibilities of interstellar dialogue. The film highlights the importance of cultural and conceptual understanding in language, suggesting that effective communication may require more than just encoded information, but a deeper engagement with the structural and semantic aspects of the alien language. While the portrayal of alien language in 'Arrival' may not be entirely accurate from a scientific standpoint, its exploration of linguistic and cultural barriers provides valuable insights into the potential difficulties of communicating with other forms of intelligent life in the universe.