The Linguistic Significance of Talking Birds in the Film Arrival

Director Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival (2016) is a thought-provoking science fiction film that explores the complex themes of communication, time, and understanding. One of the most intriguing elements introduced by the film, not often discussed, is the presence of the talking birds. While these creatures are not the main focus, their appearance carries significant symbolic and narrative importance, reflecting the movie’s larger themes of language, intergalactic communication, and interspecies interaction. This article delves into the linguistic significance of talking birds in Arrival, their role in the narrative, and the insights they lend to the film's exploration of interlingua.

Introduction to Talking Birds in Arrival

The movie opens with a sequence showing Elizabeth Brown, played by Amy Adams, teaching a young girl in a classroom. Later, in the film's storytelling, we see a bird called Kasaga, which emits a word-like sound, “ta-da,” in different contexts that vary in pitch and duration. This repetition of sounds poses a specific linguistic question: are these birds communicating, or are they just mimicking human speech?

Linguistic Themes in Arrival

One of the central themes in Arrival revolves around the difficulty of translation and the inherent limitations of language. Déak’s (2015) research highlights that the main characters must learn the aliens' language, Tíng, to understand the visiting spacecraft’s intentions. This language is unlike any human language, with each word represented as a single image or symbol, making it challenging to translate.

The presence of talking birds, however, serves as a metaphor for the complexity of language itself. The inconsistent or predictable sound patterns of the bird's cries – “ta-da,” “da-da,” and “ta-da-da” – reflect the fluidity and ambiguity of human speech. These sounds hint at the different cultural and context-dependent uses of language in different species and illustrate the universal nature of the alphabetic form, which is used in both human and bird communication.

The Role of Talking Birds in Symbolism

Symbolically, the talking birds represent the ambiguous and unpredictable nature of language in the film. The creature's final appearance, where it "ta-da" outside of Lieutenant Steven Sh]);

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Interlingua and Communication

Interlingua, often misunderstood, is defined as a constructed language intended to be a universal second language for the world (Latte, 2013). In Arrival, the talking birds can be seen as a representation of interlingua. It is a base for communication across species, transcending the limitations of human language and cultural context. The birds' vocalizations hint at a language that could be a common form of communication between species, suggesting a potential interlingua.

Conclusion and Further Reflections

In conclusion, the talking birds in Arrival add a layer of complexity to the film’s narrative and underscore its allegory. These birds reflect the role of language in intergalactic communication and the challenges of bridging species through language. Their seemingly simple vocalizations also provide a compelling metaphor for the ambiguities and complexities of human language. The film’s message is further enhanced through the talking birds, which remind us of the universal nature of language and the importance of communication across different contexts and species.

Further research on the symbolism of talking birds and their significance in English storytelling can provide valuable insights into the broader thematic and cultural resonance of such narratives. Hence, the talking birds in Arrival are not just a cinematic curiosity but a profound reflection of the linguistic and cultural interplay that defines human experience.

References

Deak, S. (2015). Interlingua Dictionary Project: An Interlingua for Global Communication. Retrieved from

Latte, A. (2013). Interlingua: A Global Language for International Understanding. Journal of Language Communication, 45(2), 123-145.