🚀 go-pugleaf

The "can syntax be sufficient for semantics" subthread reminds me of two
things:

1.  SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence).  How might we tell
that certain radio emissions received from the sky were sent by other
intelligences?  And if they were, could we ever understand them, if we
never have any other contact with the senders?  

As an experiment, one might try generating meaningful (to the generator)
signals, and (for want of any known extraterrestrials) give them to
another human, say "here's this string of bits, what might it mean?" and
see what interpretation they succeed in making of this chunk of pure syntax.

In fact, I've seen this done (though only in the context of a popular science
programme on TV.)

2.  The book "Lincos", by Hans Freudenthal, presents an account of how one
might design signals to be sent to other extraterrestrial intelligences
and be understood by them.  He starts with basic mathematics - counting,
prime numbers, etc., and works up to describing social interactions.
It's many years since I read it, so you'll have to look up the book
yourself for more details.

--
Richard Kennaway          SYS, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K.
Internet:  jrk@sys.uea.ac.uk		uucp:  ...mcvax!ukc!uea-sys!jrk

"There are two possible responses to any problem: to prove it insoluble,
or to seek a solution."