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

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

Michael Rosen talks to science communicator Dr Hannah Little.

Word of Mouth · BBC Radio 4

January 25, 202227m 28s

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Show Notes

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 BBC Audio in Bristol.