![the story of your life the story of your life](https://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/51/72/1494278709-64121_20130301_051022_404469_332390223528421_1514286579_n.jpg)
Like, what would a language be like if it came from a culture that understood the time-space continuum in a manner completely different from our own? I.e., if it came from a culture that experienced all events simultaneously?ĭr. (Some spoilers about the scifi and linguistic theory in the story.) "Story of Your Life" deals a whole bunch with semiotics. "Darmok" is probably one of the best TNG episodes.Īnyways, the Ted Chiang story is even better. (Credit to SA forums poster "Kirk," I think…?) The episode resulted in this neat-o t-shirt: In order to say, "You and I should fight together against a common enemy," the alien says, "Darmok and Jalad, at Tanagra!" which is also an actual historical event involving people called, presumably, Darmok and Jalad.
![the story of your life the story of your life](http://static1.mbtfiles.co.uk/media/docs/newdocs/gcse/english/english_language/writing_to_inform_explain_and_describe/52373/images/preview/img_218_1.jpg)
In order to say, for example, something along the lines of, "Darn, this isn't working," the alien keeps saying, "Shaka, when the walls fell," referring to an historical event. It's reminded me (somewhat) of that Star Trek: The Next Generation Episode, " Darmok," where the universal translator doesn't work quite right because the alien language's referential function is kind of on a different wavelength than our own. You can find it here: Stories of Your Life and Others. I just read "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang.