Thought Exercise - Methods of Communication

[MasterGwydion]

Humans primarily communicate verbally and visually.

Other species use scent as the primary means of communication.

Some use telepathy for their primary form of communication.

Machines use primarily electromagnetic impulses to communicate.

What other methods of communication are there?

What changes would occur if a species primary communication was changed? Say from scent to telepathy? Or from verbal to scent?

Sorry for the random thoughts, but it made Me wonder. Computers with telepathy? Dogs that communicate through natural biological meson communicators? The possibilities are nearly endless.

 

[Condottiere]

Body language.

 

[Arkathan]

The end of the first Ender anthology, "Children of the Mind," had aliens that communicated with DNA.
It didn't work so well for most cross-species "listeners."

 

[MasterGwydion]

Body language.

That is visual communication.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Body language.

That is visual communication.

Wouldn't entirely agree. When you say "humans primarily communicate verbally and visually," you are implying the acts are intentional. Like, if I used my hand to give a thumbs up, then a witness would understand that I am agreeable.

Body language really means subconscious posturing and facial expressions that the communicator isn't necessarily aware of. Meaning they hadn't intended to communicate visually. Merely, the witness worked out unintentional messages by studying these elements.

Body language could possibly contradict what someone is saying, like they say they are happy, but their face is sad and their shoulders are slumped. Meaning the witness doesn't know what to believe and nothing is really communicated.

 

[AndrewW]

Even within a given communication method there may be alternates you don't recognize. I once setup an alien facility where the players where wondering why there where no markings. There where, they where just not in the human visual spectrum.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Humans primarily communicate verbally and visually.

Other species use scent as the primary means of communication.

Some use telepathy for their primary form of communication.

Machines use primarily electromagnetic impulses to communicate.

What other methods of communication are there?

What changes would occur if a species primary communication was changed? Say from scent to telepathy? Or from verbal to scent?

Sorry for the random thoughts, but it made Me wonder. Computers with telepathy? Dogs that communicate through natural biological meson communicators? The possibilities are nearly endless.

Touch: Stroking, punching, shaking hands, etc.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Actions: As in, "actions speak louder than words"

 

[MasterGwydion]

Touch: Stroking, punching, shaking hands, etc.

That is a good one. I didn't think of that one.

 

[MasterGwydion]

Wouldn't entirely agree. When you say "humans primarily communicate verbally and visually," you are implying the acts are intentional. Like, if I used my hand to give a thumbs up, then a witness would understand that I am agreeable.

Not all communication is intentional. In fact, most isn't, but it is still communication.

Body language really means subconscious posturing and facial expressions that the communicator isn't necessarily aware of. Meaning they hadn't intended to communicate visually. Merely, the witness worked out unintentional messages by studying these elements.

Intention is not relevant. It is still communication. In this case, unconscious communication, but it is still communicating things. You communicate your emotions to dogs through smell. You don't intend to do it. It just happens. Still a form of communication.

Body language could possibly contradict what someone is saying, like they say they are happy, but their face is sad and their shoulders are slumped. Meaning the witness doesn't know what to believe and nothing is really communicated.

If you do not have eyes, body language doesn't matter. Therefore, it is visual. If you are touching them to feel their body language, then it would be as you described with touch being a form of communication. The same would apply to lying. A person never knows what to believe, but things are still being communicated. Communication does not have to be honest or truthful in order to be communication. Look at lawyers and politicos.

Just because you do not understand what is being communicated, doesn't mean that it isn't communication. I don't speak Japanese, but if a person is speaking to Me in Japanese, they are still communicating.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Absence: the absence of any communication ambivalently communicates negation without having to say or do anything.

Silence: silence transcendentally communicates with the universe .

 

[MasterGwydion]

Absence: the absence of any communication ambivalently communicates negation without having to say or do anything.

Silence: silence transcendentally communicates with the universe .

Technically, you don't even need to be "sentient" to communicate. Animals communicate. Plants communicate. Fungus communicates. etc.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Not all communication is intentional. In fact, most isn't, but it is still communication.

Intention is not relevant. It is still communication. In this case, unconscious communication, but it is still communicating things. You communicate your emotions to dogs through smell. You don't intend to do it. It just happens. Still a form of communication.

If you do not have eyes, body language doesn't matter. Therefore, it is visual. If you are touching them to feel their body language, then it would be as you described with touch being a form of communication. The same would apply to lying. A person never knows what to believe, but things are still being communicated. Communication does not have to be honest or truthful in order to be communication. Look at lawyers and politicos.

Just because you do not understand what is being communicated, doesn't mean that it isn't communication. I don't speak Japanese, but if a person is speaking to Me in Japanese, they are still communicating.

I understand where you are coming from. Just wouldn't entirely agree. According to Wikipedia:

Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not only transmits meaning but also creates it.

Source: Communications | Wikipedia

Linguists also don't appear to have "visual communication" defined the way you have described. Is the communicator using their eyes with which to communicate? Or something else?

Similarly, if someone receives an electronic communication, is the sender a machine, or is the sender communicating audially or kinesically via a machine?

 

[MasterGwydion]

I understand where you are coming from. Just wouldn't entirely agree. According to Wikipedia:

Source: Communications | Wikipedia

Yeah. Complicated subject for sure.

Linguists also don't appear to have "visual communication" defined the way you have described. Is the communicator using their eyes with which to communicate? Or something else?

The receiver is using their eyes. The sender, in the case of body language would be using all parts of his body as a "transmitter"

Similarly, if someone receives an electronic communication, is the sender a machine, or is the sender communicating audially or kinesically via a machine?

That would seem to be hybrid communication. Which I define as, "translating communication from one type to another and potentially back again at the other end".

 

[Condottiere]

 

[JustEastOfTheEdge]

Thermal or some other means of radiation to send pulses, data, etc. Trees use chemical/electrical signals.

 

[Anstett]

If you do not have eyes, body language doesn't matter. Therefore, it is visual. If you are touching them to feel their body language, then it would be as you described with touch being a form of communication. The same would apply to lying. A person never knows what to believe, but things are still being communicated. Communication does not have to be honest or truthful in order to be communication. Look at lawyers and politicos.

Just because you do not understand what is being communicated, doesn't mean that it isn't communication. I don't speak Japanese, but if a person is speaking to Me in Japanese, they are still communicating.

Using Electromatic, Thermal, Chemical types of language would all interact with body language with no visual needed.

Sophont using Thermal sensors to take in their surroundings rather than visual - "Friend why is your heart rate going so fast? That animal is breathing heavy from carrying those cooler boxes. etc."

If you only have Thermal means of communication that would imply very fine tuned control of bodily functions, similar to a chameleon adjusting skin colorization.
Hunger - stomach gets hotter
Move - extremities get warmer
Run - extremities increase it heat
Danger - extremities alternate heat patterns in the direction to safety

 

[MasterGwydion]

Using Electromatic, Thermal, Chemical types of language would all interact with body language with no visual needed.

Sophont using Thermal sensors to take in their surroundings rather than visual - "Friend why is your heart rate going so fast? That animal is breathing heavy from carrying those cooler boxes. etc."

IR thermal sensors are visual sensors. Just like UV, visual spectrum, radar, lidar, etc. Touch could be a non-IR based thermal sensor.

If you only have Thermal means of communication that would imply very fine tuned control of bodily functions, similar to a chameleon adjusting skin colorization.
Hunger - stomach gets hotter
Move - extremities get warmer
Run - extremities increase it heat
Danger - extremities alternate heat patterns in the direction to safety

It only implies fine-tuned control if you actually have conscious control of it. Think about how much information dogs get from Us solely based on smell. We have almost zero control over what smells We emit, but it is still a form of communication.

 

[Condottiere]

One thing to communicate, another to perceive it.

Demarcation of boundaries, through marking it.

 

[Limpin Legin]

Think about how much information dogs get from Us solely based on smell. We have almost zero control over what smells We emit, but it is still a form of communication.

Quite consistently in this thread, you are suggesting that receptivity defines communication, not intent, meaning, transmission. Remarkable.