https://doi.org/10.67147/literariness.v1i3.029
Language and Perception in Arrival: A Posthuman Inquiry
RIYA P
Graduate Student
Department of English and Centre for Research
St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam
DR. JEENA ANN JOSEPH
Associate Professor
Department of English and Centre for Research
St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam
ORCID: 0009-0008-3947-738X
Abstract: Language plays a crucial role in the very fabric of human existence. Human language, being largely linear in structure, is often considered the most developed and sophisticated form of communication. However, posthumanist thinkers challenge the assumption that human language is inherently superior to all other forms of communication. In the film Arrival, language functions as a central force in unfolding the narrative. Through the lens of speculative fiction, the film explores both the limitations of human language and the radically different linguistic system of extraterrestrial beings.
At a time when non-human entities such as ChatGPT are capable of generating language, Arrival offers an imaginative framework for examining communication beyond the human. This paper, “Language and Perception in Arrival: A Posthuman Inquiry,” explores how human beings might cultivate inclusivity within a posthuman world. It highlights the possibilities of transcending anthropocentric limitations and rethinking what it means to be human. The study further examines the fragility of human communication and the dual nature of posthumanism in Arrival, which evokes both fascination and anxiety through its portrayal of different characters and modes of perception.
Keywords: Speculative Fiction, Posthumanism, Language, Communication, Inclusivity
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