> I thought it was strange that they started with "walking" because the aliens don't walk the same way humans do!
Neither dogs (Dogs don't(?) think(!) in that as "walking"). You still walk with your dog, and I think most people see a dog walking, and think: "Is walking!"
Even if the way aliens "walk" were more like "swing" them see us moving from A to B. Maybe them translate them as "Moving from A to B".
The we show them "running", and them translate it as "Moving from A to B faster".
Eventually, them see a dolphin, and is moving more like them. Maybe them translate it as "Moonwalking".
Still, different words and concepts from them eventually must equal to our own, and even if are not a perfect 1:1 translation is enough to convey things.
For example, some ancients languages have different words for "Love" but ours use adjectives for them.
Neither dogs (Dogs don't(?) think(!) in that as "walking"). You still walk with your dog, and I think most people see a dog walking, and think: "Is walking!"
Even if the way aliens "walk" were more like "swing" them see us moving from A to B. Maybe them translate them as "Moving from A to B".
The we show them "running", and them translate it as "Moving from A to B faster".
Eventually, them see a dolphin, and is moving more like them. Maybe them translate it as "Moonwalking".
Still, different words and concepts from them eventually must equal to our own, and even if are not a perfect 1:1 translation is enough to convey things.
For example, some ancients languages have different words for "Love" but ours use adjectives for them.