At first glance, Arrival is a film about aliens, but beneath the surface, it’s a masterclass on communication—both as an art and a science. Right now, as we navigate an era of global crises, deep political division, and an increasingly volatile media landscape, the lessons from Arrival feel more relevant than ever.
One of the most striking scenes in the film is when linguist Louise Banks, tasked with understanding why the aliens have arrived, erases a board full of complex mathematical formulas and writes a simple yet profound question: “What is your purpose on Earth?” This moment underscores the idea that before we can solve complex problems—whether scientific, political, or societal—we need to establish a foundation for understanding.
To explore these themes further, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Jessica Coon, a leading linguist and the expert consultant on Arrival, about the film’s real-world implications for communication, media, and the evolving challenges of language in today’s world.
Communication Precedes Progress
Think about it: every breakthrough in human history was made possible by communication. The first humans who discovered fire had to teach others how to use it. The architects of civilizations relied on language to share ideas, pass down knowledge, and shape societies. The scientific revolution, the digital age, and even the technologies we use today—none of them would exist without communication.
Yet, in today’s world, our ability to communicate is under siege. We exist in fragmented echo chambers, where language is weaponized rather than used as a bridge. Social media algorithms prioritize outrage over discourse, and misinformation spreads faster than facts. The recent government intervention involving Elon Musk and the Trump administration highlights how much power is tied to controlling the channels of communication.
The Arrival Paradox: When Language Shapes Reality
One of the most powerful themes in Arrival is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which suggests that the language we use shapes the way we think. In the film, as Louise learns the alien Heptapods’ circular language, she begins to perceive time non-linearly. This concept raises an important question for today’s world: How does our current media language shape our perception of reality?
- If our media is driven by fear, does it train us to see only chaos?
- If political rhetoric reduces complex issues into simplistic slogans, does it limit our ability to solve problems?
- If misinformation distorts reality, how do we reclaim a shared language rooted in truth?
Much like the military officials in Arrival who react with paranoia rather than curiosity, our modern media landscape thrives on narratives of division. Instead of seeking to understand, we are conditioned to assume the worst of those who speak a different ‘language’—be it ideological, cultural, or political.
The Myth & Reality of Language Shaping Thought
Dr. Coon noted that while the film brings visibility to linguistic relativity, the extreme version of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis—where language completely determines how we think—has been largely disproven.
“The idea that the particular human language you speak constrains or determines how you view the world at a large level has been shown to not be correct,” Dr. Coon explained. “That being said, there are interesting studies on how language can influence reaction time and perception in more subtle ways.”
This distinction is important. While language can shape thought, it doesn’t completely dictate it—meaning that while media narratives can influence public perception, individuals still have the agency to think critically and seek nuance beyond simplified messaging.
AI as the Modern Heptapods?
One of the reasons Arrival is resonating again in popular culture may be its eerie parallels to AI-driven communication. In the film, Louise struggles to decode the Heptapods’ non-linear language. Today, we are navigating a similar challenge: how do we interpret and trust AI-generated language when it doesn’t follow human intent or cognition?
Dr. Coon weighed in on this comparison:
“Large language models don’t learn like humans do. If you compare the amount of data that a human baby receives, by the age of five, nearly every child can form complete sentences and express thoughts. AI models require orders of magnitude more input, yet they still don’t process language the way we do.”
This raises crucial questions:
- How will AI’s role in communication change our understanding of language?
- Will we need to adapt to a world where we interact with non-human minds in business, politics, and daily life?
- How do we ensure that AI-generated narratives don’t distort reality in the way misinformation already does?
Much like the Heptapods in Arrival, AI presents a new kind of linguistic challenge—one that requires us to rethink how we interpret meaning beyond just the words themselves.
Relearning How to Listen
One of the biggest takeaways from Arrival is that communication is not just about speaking—it’s about listening. In the film, Louise doesn’t approach the Heptapods with demands; she approaches them with questions. She listens first, seeking to understand their perspective before trying to be understood.
Dr. Coon pointed out that this approach reflects the real-world process of linguistic research. “In linguistics, we don’t just decode a language in isolation. We build relationships with speakers. We need to understand the cultural and contextual framework before we can begin meaningful communication.”
What if we applied that lesson to our world today? Imagine if:
- Governments prioritized diplomatic listening over military posturing.
- Social media users engaged in thoughtful discourse instead of reactionary outrage.
- Journalists framed stories with nuance rather than hyperbole.
Why Arrival is Trending Again: A Reflection of Our Time
Interestingly, Arrival has recently resurfaced as one of Netflix’s most-watched films. Could it be that, in an era of AI uncertainty and global tension, we are seeking guidance from stories that explore the power of communication?
At Fullintel, where we specialize in media monitoring, we see how narratives evolve in real time—how language shapes perception, fuels misinformation, and impacts public sentiment. In a way, our work is not unlike the effort to decode an alien language: we analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and help our clients navigate the complexities of modern communication.
As Arrival teaches us, understanding the intent behind words is just as important as the words themselves.
A Linguist’s First Contact Strategy—And What We Can Learn from It
If aliens landed tomorrow and Dr. Coon was tasked with first contact, how would she approach it?
“The first thing we’d need to do is establish a mode of communication. We assume that language means sounds, but what if aliens communicate through light, smell, or something entirely different?” she explained. “Before anything else, we’d need to understand their system and figure out if we could even replicate it.”
This applies not just to aliens but to human communication today. We often assume others think and communicate like us, when in reality, different cultural, political, and technological perspectives shape entirely different ways of engaging with the world.
Dr. Coon’s key takeaway? “Keep an open mind. Don’t come in with assumptions about how another language—or communication system—should work.”
This isn’t just a lesson for sci-fi linguists—it’s a lesson for all of us. In an age of AI, media fragmentation, and ideological divides, understanding each other requires going back to the drawing board, just like Louise Banks does in Arrival.
The Future Hinges on How We Choose to Communicate
Arrival wasn’t about aliens—it was about us.
By the end of the movie, Louise’s ability to communicate across barriers doesn’t just prevent war—it rewrites the course of humanity. In today’s world, we face our own crossroads. Will we allow communication breakdowns to deepen our divides, or will we use language to foster understanding and collaboration?
As Dr. Coon puts it: “We need to start with shared understanding before we can truly communicate.”
Maybe it’s time to erase our assumptions from the whiteboard and start asking the real question: What is our purpose on Earth?
