If language structures thought, would the language of the aliens allow for the development of sophisticated technology - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages... In his work, “Writing is a Technology that Restructures Thought,” Walter Ong says that literacy is not an innate human understanding; but a learned process which has developed along with technology as humanity progressed. He argues that many people do not make the distinction between having an idea, and putting it down on paper; a thought is only legitimate if it is written down. In this this essay I relate his argument on language to “Darmok”, an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and argue whether or not the alien species as depicted would have been able to achieve advanced technological capabilities. It is quite evident in the episode that the factor that act as an obstacle between the two parties is the language barrier
In the Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Federation meetings with the Tamarians have all the time been challenging because the universal translator could not translate the languages. The Tamarian captain and Picard, Dathon, try to converse from their corresponding ships, but the translator can only give ambiguous expressions like "Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra," which does not make sense to the crew. As Picard attempts to clarify that Starfleet wishes peaceful relations, Dathon lifts his hands clutching two daggers, then he and Picard are beamed from their ships to the surface of the planet below. Meanwhile Riker and the crew realize that the Tamarians have put up a field in the planets ionosphere to avert a beam out, Dathon offers Picard a dagger, of which Picard declines because he thinks the Tamarian, wants to fight him.
At night, Dathon lites a fire, and then flings Picard a flaming log so that he cannot sleep cold. Dathon keeps repeating the phrase, “Shaka, when the walls fell " and Darmok and “Jalad at Tenagra," which does not make sense to Picard. In the morning, Picard and Dathon are pursued by a large alien while the Enterprise sends a shuttlecraft on a saving ...Download file to see next pagesRead More