The Envoy crew and the quadrupedal Tahirians can communicate by transmitting basic scientific information interpreted by computers, by sign language and by showing images on screens but cannot converse. The Tahirians use a body language involving configurations of their ivy-like manes although "'...with chemical and vocal elements...'" (p. 223) Each is identified to his/her/its fellow beings not by a single symbol but by fluidly changing sensory data. The human explorers cannot learn any native name for the planet that they agree among themselves to call "Tahir" and can only bestow nicknames on the individual Tahirians with whom they communicate. Meanwhile, we remain unable to read any inter-species dialogue. This makes life tedious for some of the crew and also means that it is curiously difficult for the reader to understand what is happening. We are used to straightforward vocal conversation not only between human beings but also between them and Ythrians or Merseians but Poul Anderson explores every possibility.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
It is reasonable to think communicating with some non human races will be more difficult than with others. So here will likely be real world analogs to the Tahrians and Merseians.
Ad astra! Sean
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