Universal Translator Proposed

Bill Machon

Terrence Deacon, a professor of linguistics and anthropology at the University of Califonia, Berkeley, proposes that someday, technology should be harnessed to create a "universal translator," for the purpose of communicating with extraterrestrials, when, and if such a first contact scenario presents itself. With the exponential increase of the rate at with our technological power grows, Deacon proposes that someday, it might actually be possible to develop a gadget that could instantly decipher an alien language in real time. He argues that it probably would be necessary to develop such a device for comunication to be successful. If the technology is achieved before first contact is made, it might be possible to test such a device with dolphins.

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