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It's language, Jim, but not as we know it

Michael Rosen talks to science communicator Dr Hannah Little about aliens, ants and ancestors.

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 大象传媒 Audio in Bristol.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Mon 31 Jan 2022 23:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 25 Jan 2022 16:00
  • Mon 31 Jan 2022 23:00

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