valdus t1_j9xazzt wrote on February 25, 2023 at 5:50 AM

Reply to comment by ShittDickk in [WP] The aliens, it seems, do not consider us a sentient species because we are unable to 'keeneetaa'. We still haven't figured out what that means. by limbodog

The nod is not innate. It it taught - which is why in some countries a nod means no.

The twisting head shake, however, is universally a 'no' - think of trying to feed a 2 year old!

valdus t1_j9x4llr wrote on February 25, 2023 at 4:45 AM

Reply to comment by thoughtsthoughtof in [WP] The aliens, it seems, do not consider us a sentient species because we are unable to 'keeneetaa'. We still haven't figured out what that means. by limbodog

But if they had something resembling telepathy, they likely wouldn't have had to develop oral languages.

Perhaps we are weird in having external emotional expression. Perhaps a Xenkathi or Rrpktgnh cannot have an entire conversation with just facial expressions like Humans can. Maybe all the other aliens use something like purring at different frequencies as a shared language, and don't recognize our facial movements as one.

valdus t1_j9uw9bw wrote on February 24, 2023 at 6:59 PM

Reply to comment by WontFixMySwypeErrors in [WP] The aliens, it seems, do not consider us a sentient species because we are unable to 'keeneetaa'. We still haven't figured out what that means. by limbodog

Personally I expected this (being unfamiliar with u/Writteninsanity 's linked story) to continue into arguing that our non-verbal 'language' is our keeneetaa. Without language, and basically from birth, almost every Human understands a smile, a snarl, a laugh (despite the language variances therein), a grimace, suspicion, a chuckle, a snub, surprise, fear, etc. That is our shared language - except those of us with ASD mess that up...