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Elizabeth Bent's avatar

In a Poul Anderson book once, aliens communicated by scent. I wrote a short story about that- but it's very plausible. Also, don't octopuses (?) display colours and patterns that are signals?

Tales of Whoa's avatar

They do! It’s unclear if that’s language (by the definition of “arbitrary symbolic communication”), however. Dogs barking is communication, for example, but it isn’t language.

Jury’s still out on whale and dolphin vocalizations, however.

Elizabeth Bent's avatar

I may have to repost my story "Lactose Intolerance" for you- it's amusing

Tales of Whoa's avatar

You definitely should!

Elizabeth Bent's avatar

It will pop up on the 17th