Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth
BBC Radio 4
It's language, Jim, but not as we know it
27 minutes Posted Jan 25, 2022 at 4:00 pm.
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Show notes

Could aliens 'speak' in chemicals? Could they converse in electricity? Would they be able to hear us? In the absence of a Star Trek-style universal translator, how would you talk to an alien newly arrived on Planet Earth?

Dr Hannah Little is a science communicator, linguist and comedian. She joins Michael Rosen for some fascinating thought experiments on extraterrestrial communication and animal interactions closer to home. What might all this tell us about how human language first appeared, and why does it matter?

Produced by Sarah Goodman for BBC Audio in Bristol.