A language came to the future

Since the beginning of the human race, primitive humans communicate with each other through gestures and symbols. Over time, these symbols were being organized specifically in coding systems, thus becoming languages. Languages arise to respond to the need of man to communicate with each other in a particular culture. These were mixed with others, due to the cultural mixtures with the passage of time, thus creating new languages.

However, there are other kind languages that do not correspond to evolution, are languages that have simply been created for fiction. That is the case of Alienese languages, these are two languages created by the tv series Futurama. The alien languages are composed of a set of symbols that at first glance may seem simple scribbles, but that analyzed carefully are a code that encrypts the Romanic alphabet.

According to Britannica website “Alienese (also just called “Alien Language”) is perhaps one of the easiest languages to learn […] the language of the animated show Futurama, began as a simple substitution alphabet, with 26 characters that directly corresponded to the English alphabet. However, that proved too easy for fans, so a second form of the language was devised, using math instead […] Each symbol has a numerical value, and messages are decoded into English thusly: first, translate the first symbol directly (0=A, 1=B, etc.), then for remaining letters subtract the previous symbol’s value (if the result is less than 0, add 26).”

Even though the language was thought to hide clever jokes of black humor in the show, thanks to him also develop several cultures. In the series, the speakers of the alien language are not only intergalactic beings living around the universe but also mutants living in the sewers of New York.

Although so far the alien language is not an official language in any country in the world, there are plenty of websites where you can learn, and translate what you want to this language. And if the predictions in the series are fulfilled (French and German will be dead languages in the future, besides the unification of English and Spanish "Spanglish") it is best that you learn at least the basic principles in Alienese, so that you stay silent when visiting another galaxy.

By: Andrés Correa.