LANGUAGE - THE MIRACLE OF THE GALAXY
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                             by Matthew Dean
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"Hello" - "Bonjour" - "Shalom" - "Hola" - "Bonjuono" - "NuqNeh"


Languages in all forms  has always been an  integral part of Star Trek - from
the characters getting their message  across with feeling and  emotion - down
to getting their messages  across without feeling or emotion - which is where
our Vulcan friend shines.

But the  art of communication  goes a lot deeper  than that, for language and
communication is perhaps the greatest miracle in the history of the evolution
of man, and the galaxy - it has allowed us to recognise our part in humanity,
and strive for new horizons, and new  beliefs - and certainly  new life forms
and civilizations.

The  way that  language is  learned has always  been a complicated issue, and
beliefs  vary. Some  believe that  languages are  learnt by  association with
objects -  and young children  are much  more likely  to learn  quicker  than
adults. The reason why is somewhat foggy.

As  addressed in Star  Trek before (namely the fifth season episode "Darmok",
and in the first season episode "Loud as a Whisper"), the  ability of any one
people to  learn another's  language to  begin with  is very  complicated. To
continue  Councillor Troi's example, imagine  two people stranded on a planet
together, one  an  Andorian,  one  a  Deltan.  Neither  speaks  each  other's
language, but the Deltan wishes to learn Andorian. The Andorian takes a block
of ice from a nearby  frozen river, and  holds it  in front  of the  Deltan - 
"Tamsorak" the Andorian says.

What  does he  mean?. Water?  Cold? Clear?  Wet?  Frozen?  or even  Ice?  The
possibilities are endless. 

Association  is an  important part  of language. Let  us now assume  that the
Deltan word for Ice is "Tamzsareth". Instantly there is a correlation between
"Tamsorak"  and  "Tamzsareth". Once  correlations and  associations with  the
languages are addressed, the  actual basis of the language can be learnt, and
communication can be initiated.

Now imagine a link between  the two people - a Romulan crashes on the planet,
and is able to speak both Andorian and  Deltan. Association will  immediately
become easier,  and the  language is  likely to be  absorbed more quickly and
enthusiastically.

We are of course  assuming that there in fact are going to be correlations in
language, and a fact often neglected  is that it is a dead certainty that our
`standard' language notation - evolved from Greek - will definitely NOT be in
use by other worlds. The Klingons have  shown that  their notation  is vastly
different from ours. As  have the Chinese. It is extremely different to grasp
a written  language without having  a common basis of comparison - that is, a
basis that both parties can relate to - often the phonetic form of language.

If I were  to write "$^&$$$^^^'", there would be  absolutely no chance of you
being able to read it back. If I were  then to say it actually  said "clock",
you would be able to begin to look for patterns. With some effort, we can see
that "$^" is a "K" sound, "&'" is a "lu" sound  and "$$" is a "ohh" sound. We
can then decipher that, when constructed,  the sound translates  "KLUOHHKH" -
"Clock". other  words will introduce other phonetics, and eventually the full
phonetic  alphabet will  be constructed. You  have in essence, translated the
word from one form of notation to the other, using phonetics as a guide.

Once the  basis, the notation, and  the phonetics of a language and method of
communication is deciphered, it is only a matter of time  before the language
is learned, and proper communication can begin in earnest.

Continuing the idea of phonetics, the use of music for communication probably
predates the spoken  word itself, in many cultures. The important factor with
music, the the  fact that it conveys feelings - feelings  which are universal
to  EVERYBODY, whoever  they are.  In every  part of the  world, if  not  the
galaxy, it is probably certain that Strauss' "The  Blue Danube" will generate
an identical mental reaction. The use of music communicating feelings was put
to great use in  the beautiful episode "Lessons". The android Data also tries
to explore his own perceptions of feelings and emotion, with music.

Language, and  the ability to  communicate effectively, is the most important
thing in the world, and of course, in the  galaxy of Star Trek  today. A lack
of communication  would cause  us to become  hostile and  selfish - the  very
opposite of what we  know Star Trek stands for.  Roddenberry made  his series
about people - and communication is what people are all about.

Communication truly remains the miracle of the Universe.


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If you have  any comments on the above, for possible inclusion in a follow-up
article, write to Matthew at:

                              Matthew Dean
                           Infinite Frontiers
                             P.O. Box 8966
                              Great Barr
                              Birmingham
                               B43 5ST
                               ENGLAND