An other form of language

[Zalzadar]

Is there an 'other' form of language possible? Like ali�ns (hypothetical), would they have the same form of language like ours, with verbs and nouns? Or aren't there any other 'forms' of language?

[straz]

Saw an interesting programme on TV a while back (Horizon I think), if we ever did make contact with Aliens how would we communicate? Maths was being looked at as a basic building bock to communicating as Mathematics is truly universal, NASA were looking into starting with broadcasting prime numbers and working up from there . Some other scientists were looking at decoding Dolphins communications, taking the view if we're unable to work out exactly what these intelligent, non-primate, creatures from the same planet as ourselves are saying; what chance do we have communicating with creatures from another planet.

[spiff]

It could be anything really. for example,their form of communication might be pheromonal,visual(anything from infra-red to X-rays).depending on what evolutionary forces were at work on their planet(even that's an assumption),anything is possible.It could be as bizzare as communication via being able to sense variations in mass!

[firefly]

Probally the first language was just made out of interjections-indeed if you look at dogs, cats etc, it's just interjections.

[andy hughes]

The potential for language is as wide as the universe. Other species may use colours, smells, inaudible sounds, though waves, the list is endless, but it is unlikely to be spoken in the way human language has evolved. It would require the alien form to have lungs, lips and a tongue, which are unlikely.

[beale]

If Star Trek has taught me anything it's that English is spoken fluently throughout the universe, usually as a first language.

[bernardo]

The only limit to the "form" of language, and the categories of words used, is the imagination. One of the invented languages I have come across is "Allnoun" which is, er, all nouns. There may be philosophical (or philological?) arguments about the different uses to which words are put, e.g. nouns acting as verbs. A basic life form (with the intelligence of dogs, perhaps) might just have a few words to indicate basic needs and desires, in which case a grammatical structure, and grammatical categorisation, may not be needed. (e.g. "ouch!"
"food!"
"water!"
"look out, there are llamas nearby!" and
"let's have sex!")

[Zalzadar]

That kind of answers my question, thanks everyone!