Publisher Description

In linguistics, one of the main areas of modern research involves the capabilities and possibilities of there being a "lingua cosmica," a LINCOS, a universal language that could be used to communicate with non-human intelligences. This book touches on the area of the development and use of a "lingua universalis" for interstellar communication, but it also presents concepts that cover a broad area of linguistics. Chomsky's paradigm on universal properties of natural languages, for a long time a leading general theory of natural languages, includes the strong assumption that humans are born with some kind of universals stored in their brains. Are there universals of this kind of language used by intelligent beings and societies elsewhere in the universe? We do not know whether such languages exist. It seems to be impossible to determine, simply because the universe is too large for an exhaustive search. Even verification will be hard to obtain, without quite a bit of luck. This book usesastrolinguistic principles in message construction and is helpful in clarifying and giving perspective to discussions on existential questions such as these.

Notes

Presents an in-depth, partly philosophical study of a theoretical but growing area of linguistics

Uses applied logic and universal aspects of linguistics to explain concepts and theories

Describes in a concise and easy to interpret manner aspects of human behavior as relates to communicating with other-world intelligences

Back Cover

In linguistics, one of the main areas of modern research involves the capabilities and possibilities of there being a "lingua cosmica," a LINCOS, a universal language that could be used to communicate with non-human intelligences. This book touches on the area of the development and use of a "lingua universalis" for interstellar communication, but it also presents concepts that cover a broad area of linguistics. Chomsky's paradigm on universal properties of natural languages, for a long time a leading general theory of natural languages, includes the strong assumption that humans are born with some kind of universals stored in their brains. Are there universals of this kind of language used by intelligent beings and societies elsewhere in the universe? We do not know whether such languages exist. It seems to be impossible to determine, simply because the universe is too large for an exhaustive search. Even verification will be hard to obtain, without quite a bit of luck. This book uses astrolinguistic principles in message construction and is helpful in clarifying and giving perspective to discussions on existential questions such as these.

Table of Contents

Preface by Prof. D. Vakoch.- Paart I: Calculus of Constructions.- Chapter 1.1: Types and declarations.- Chapter 1.2: Functions and induction.- Chapter 1.3.: Hypotheses.- Chapter 1.4: Higher orders and inductive structures.- Part II: Facts.- Chapter 2.1: Simple Facts.- Chapter 2.2: Compounds.- Chapter 2.3: Aristotelian Theater.- Chapter 2.4: Wittgenstein's Theater.- Part III: Annotation in LINCOS.- Chapter 3.1: Logical contents of texts.- Chapter 3.2: An astrolinguistic experiment.- Chapter 3.3: Aspects of Truth.- Chapter 3.4: Human altruism.- Part IV: Interpretation of LINCOS.- Chapter 4.1: Self-interpretation.- Chapter 4.2: Pictorial representations.- Chapter 4.3: Representation of music.- Chapter 4.4: Signature of LINCOS.- Part V: Processes in LINCOS.- Chapter 5.1: Representing processes.- Chapter 5.2: Cooperating sequential processes.- Chapter 5.3: Hamlet in LINCOS.- Part VI: Symbolic Computation.- Chapter 6.1: Basics.- Chapter 6.2: Relativistic particle motion.- Chapter 6.3: Two-body motion.- Parti VII: (Un)Certainty.- Chapter 7.1: Certain existence.- Chapter 7.2: The uncertain alien.- Appendices.- Appendix A: Background information.- Appendix B: Preliminary Orientation.- Appendix C: History.- Appendix D: a gentle introduction to Lambda and Type.- Appendix E: Postscriptum.- Appendix F: Summary in Russian.- Appendix G: Curriculum Vitae.- Index.

Review

"If you want to know everything about the LINCOS language 'Astrolinguistics' is the right book for you. … This book therefore is a modern overview of LINCOS given by an authoritative source. First it describes the syntax of the language, then it shows how it can be used to describe different aspects of ordinary communication like, e.g. music, scientific language, or language courses." (Gabriella Bernardi, Astrocom et al., astrocometal.blogspot.de, January, 2017)

Review Quote

"If you want to know everything about the LINCOS language 'Astrolinguistics' is the right book for you. ... This book therefore is a modern overview of LINCOS given by an authoritative source. First it describes the syntax of the language, then it shows how it can be used to describe different aspects of ordinary communication like, e.g. music, scientific language, or language courses." (Gabriella Bernardi, Astrocom et al., astrocometal.blogspot.de, January, 2017)

Feature

Presents an in-depth, partly philosophical study of a theoretical but growing area of linguistics Uses applied logic and universal aspects of linguistics to explain concepts and theories Describes in a concise and easy to interpret manner aspects of human behavior as relates to communicating with other-world intelligences

Details