How can a team of shapeshifters communicate? Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern)What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?How to contain a shapeshifterShapeshifters - Shared language between human and animal formsWhat happens when a shapeshifter gets muddy?A heavy shapeshifter in small body - where to store mass?What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?How to differentiate between different races of shape shifters?How would shapeshifters be affected by their abilities?War between human/animal shapeshifters and humansHow would photo IDs work for shapeshifters?How would tattoos for shapeshifters work?
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How can a team of shapeshifters communicate?
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 23, 2019 at 23:30 UTC (7:30pm US/Eastern)What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?How to contain a shapeshifterShapeshifters - Shared language between human and animal formsWhat happens when a shapeshifter gets muddy?A heavy shapeshifter in small body - where to store mass?What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?How to differentiate between different races of shape shifters?How would shapeshifters be affected by their abilities?War between human/animal shapeshifters and humansHow would photo IDs work for shapeshifters?How would tattoos for shapeshifters work?
$begingroup$
There is a group of people who can shapeshift. They send out hunting parties, scout teams, etc. In a circumstance where a group of ten people can look like ten different species (one human, one wolf, one demon antelope, etc.) is there any way they can communicate effectively across team members without having to change shape back to a species with greater vocalization ranges? Telepathy is excluded as an option.
The best answer would be that which allows for the most complex information to be shared in the most quick and efficient manner. For example, "scent glands" could feasibly be integrated into just about any form a person takes, and used to emit smells for communication, but one weakness as an answer is that it seems difficult if not impossible to convey more detailed information using this method. My benchmark for a useful method would be the feasibility of saying something basic, but with details, like: "two people, north, armed with spears, riding horses."
I should probably also clarify we are talking all generally "person-sized" animals here, not a three-inch-long mouse trying to communicate with a two-story-high dragon. The shapeshifters are limited in the extent that they can re-proportion their mass, and can only turn into physically possible animal species.
Edit: Some clarifications that came up in the comments.
For the purpose of this question, let's use humans as the baseline for the shapeshifters in their natural form, with all the assumptions inherent to them (possessing a developed verbal language, high intelligence, etc.) Any differences that suggest themselves as significant I will try to state and clarify as necessary.
The shapeshifters have some degree of adaptability, but have to start with an existing animal as a blueprint. basically they can't do anything not biologically practical. AKA you can start with a giant cat beast, then proceed to make the fur longer or change its color, change your build a bit, etc., but if it wouldn't be functional on the actual animal, it isn't going to work for you either, and may be prevented due to inbuilt shapeshifting failsafes. You probably can't add unbalanced tentacles to your giant cat, but you can likely make your tail longer.
There is an extent to which the shapeshifter's own inherent internal structure is required to be retained as well. For instance, the biological components (such as a shapeshifting-devoted internal organ, their brain, and their blood) related to the shape-shifting process can't be altered or eliminated. Nor can the shapeshifter's cells turn into anything not a natural organic part of their body. So, they can create hair (or fur), bone, skin, muscle, claws (or horns or tusks or scales) etc. etc. But they cannot turn a part of their body into metal, being non organic, or bark, since, despite being organic, it isn't made from the same sort of materials their natural body is (I think?). So while you might be able to shapeshift a bone exoskeleton or scales as natural armor when fighting, you couldn't turn your arm into a steel sword or your skin to iron.
creature-design communication shapeshifters
$endgroup$
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
There is a group of people who can shapeshift. They send out hunting parties, scout teams, etc. In a circumstance where a group of ten people can look like ten different species (one human, one wolf, one demon antelope, etc.) is there any way they can communicate effectively across team members without having to change shape back to a species with greater vocalization ranges? Telepathy is excluded as an option.
The best answer would be that which allows for the most complex information to be shared in the most quick and efficient manner. For example, "scent glands" could feasibly be integrated into just about any form a person takes, and used to emit smells for communication, but one weakness as an answer is that it seems difficult if not impossible to convey more detailed information using this method. My benchmark for a useful method would be the feasibility of saying something basic, but with details, like: "two people, north, armed with spears, riding horses."
I should probably also clarify we are talking all generally "person-sized" animals here, not a three-inch-long mouse trying to communicate with a two-story-high dragon. The shapeshifters are limited in the extent that they can re-proportion their mass, and can only turn into physically possible animal species.
Edit: Some clarifications that came up in the comments.
For the purpose of this question, let's use humans as the baseline for the shapeshifters in their natural form, with all the assumptions inherent to them (possessing a developed verbal language, high intelligence, etc.) Any differences that suggest themselves as significant I will try to state and clarify as necessary.
The shapeshifters have some degree of adaptability, but have to start with an existing animal as a blueprint. basically they can't do anything not biologically practical. AKA you can start with a giant cat beast, then proceed to make the fur longer or change its color, change your build a bit, etc., but if it wouldn't be functional on the actual animal, it isn't going to work for you either, and may be prevented due to inbuilt shapeshifting failsafes. You probably can't add unbalanced tentacles to your giant cat, but you can likely make your tail longer.
There is an extent to which the shapeshifter's own inherent internal structure is required to be retained as well. For instance, the biological components (such as a shapeshifting-devoted internal organ, their brain, and their blood) related to the shape-shifting process can't be altered or eliminated. Nor can the shapeshifter's cells turn into anything not a natural organic part of their body. So, they can create hair (or fur), bone, skin, muscle, claws (or horns or tusks or scales) etc. etc. But they cannot turn a part of their body into metal, being non organic, or bark, since, despite being organic, it isn't made from the same sort of materials their natural body is (I think?). So while you might be able to shapeshift a bone exoskeleton or scales as natural armor when fighting, you couldn't turn your arm into a steel sword or your skin to iron.
creature-design communication shapeshifters
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Is their shapeshifting "all or nothing"?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are they constrained to existing species, or can do partial/mixed forms? Submitted to your consideration: Isaac Arthur on Alien senses - in particular consider electroreception and magnetoreception. See also Octopus 101 | Communication!.
$endgroup$
– Theraot
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might be interested in my question What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@aCVn thanks for the link. limited to wolves only, compared to what I'm looking for, but still an interesting and informative topic
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Please edit your question with clarifications. Never assume people will read through the comments before answering. Along with your clarification to @L.Dutch's question, please explain how these creatures communicate when in their native form and whether or not telepathy is permissible for an answer. Finally, note that "something basic" isn't basic at all. Useful communication requires a fair number of verbs and nouns (e.g., "spear"). How intelligent is this species?
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
There is a group of people who can shapeshift. They send out hunting parties, scout teams, etc. In a circumstance where a group of ten people can look like ten different species (one human, one wolf, one demon antelope, etc.) is there any way they can communicate effectively across team members without having to change shape back to a species with greater vocalization ranges? Telepathy is excluded as an option.
The best answer would be that which allows for the most complex information to be shared in the most quick and efficient manner. For example, "scent glands" could feasibly be integrated into just about any form a person takes, and used to emit smells for communication, but one weakness as an answer is that it seems difficult if not impossible to convey more detailed information using this method. My benchmark for a useful method would be the feasibility of saying something basic, but with details, like: "two people, north, armed with spears, riding horses."
I should probably also clarify we are talking all generally "person-sized" animals here, not a three-inch-long mouse trying to communicate with a two-story-high dragon. The shapeshifters are limited in the extent that they can re-proportion their mass, and can only turn into physically possible animal species.
Edit: Some clarifications that came up in the comments.
For the purpose of this question, let's use humans as the baseline for the shapeshifters in their natural form, with all the assumptions inherent to them (possessing a developed verbal language, high intelligence, etc.) Any differences that suggest themselves as significant I will try to state and clarify as necessary.
The shapeshifters have some degree of adaptability, but have to start with an existing animal as a blueprint. basically they can't do anything not biologically practical. AKA you can start with a giant cat beast, then proceed to make the fur longer or change its color, change your build a bit, etc., but if it wouldn't be functional on the actual animal, it isn't going to work for you either, and may be prevented due to inbuilt shapeshifting failsafes. You probably can't add unbalanced tentacles to your giant cat, but you can likely make your tail longer.
There is an extent to which the shapeshifter's own inherent internal structure is required to be retained as well. For instance, the biological components (such as a shapeshifting-devoted internal organ, their brain, and their blood) related to the shape-shifting process can't be altered or eliminated. Nor can the shapeshifter's cells turn into anything not a natural organic part of their body. So, they can create hair (or fur), bone, skin, muscle, claws (or horns or tusks or scales) etc. etc. But they cannot turn a part of their body into metal, being non organic, or bark, since, despite being organic, it isn't made from the same sort of materials their natural body is (I think?). So while you might be able to shapeshift a bone exoskeleton or scales as natural armor when fighting, you couldn't turn your arm into a steel sword or your skin to iron.
creature-design communication shapeshifters
$endgroup$
There is a group of people who can shapeshift. They send out hunting parties, scout teams, etc. In a circumstance where a group of ten people can look like ten different species (one human, one wolf, one demon antelope, etc.) is there any way they can communicate effectively across team members without having to change shape back to a species with greater vocalization ranges? Telepathy is excluded as an option.
The best answer would be that which allows for the most complex information to be shared in the most quick and efficient manner. For example, "scent glands" could feasibly be integrated into just about any form a person takes, and used to emit smells for communication, but one weakness as an answer is that it seems difficult if not impossible to convey more detailed information using this method. My benchmark for a useful method would be the feasibility of saying something basic, but with details, like: "two people, north, armed with spears, riding horses."
I should probably also clarify we are talking all generally "person-sized" animals here, not a three-inch-long mouse trying to communicate with a two-story-high dragon. The shapeshifters are limited in the extent that they can re-proportion their mass, and can only turn into physically possible animal species.
Edit: Some clarifications that came up in the comments.
For the purpose of this question, let's use humans as the baseline for the shapeshifters in their natural form, with all the assumptions inherent to them (possessing a developed verbal language, high intelligence, etc.) Any differences that suggest themselves as significant I will try to state and clarify as necessary.
The shapeshifters have some degree of adaptability, but have to start with an existing animal as a blueprint. basically they can't do anything not biologically practical. AKA you can start with a giant cat beast, then proceed to make the fur longer or change its color, change your build a bit, etc., but if it wouldn't be functional on the actual animal, it isn't going to work for you either, and may be prevented due to inbuilt shapeshifting failsafes. You probably can't add unbalanced tentacles to your giant cat, but you can likely make your tail longer.
There is an extent to which the shapeshifter's own inherent internal structure is required to be retained as well. For instance, the biological components (such as a shapeshifting-devoted internal organ, their brain, and their blood) related to the shape-shifting process can't be altered or eliminated. Nor can the shapeshifter's cells turn into anything not a natural organic part of their body. So, they can create hair (or fur), bone, skin, muscle, claws (or horns or tusks or scales) etc. etc. But they cannot turn a part of their body into metal, being non organic, or bark, since, despite being organic, it isn't made from the same sort of materials their natural body is (I think?). So while you might be able to shapeshift a bone exoskeleton or scales as natural armor when fighting, you couldn't turn your arm into a steel sword or your skin to iron.
creature-design communication shapeshifters
creature-design communication shapeshifters
edited 2 hours ago
MarielS
asked 5 hours ago
MarielSMarielS
846112
846112
$begingroup$
Is their shapeshifting "all or nothing"?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are they constrained to existing species, or can do partial/mixed forms? Submitted to your consideration: Isaac Arthur on Alien senses - in particular consider electroreception and magnetoreception. See also Octopus 101 | Communication!.
$endgroup$
– Theraot
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might be interested in my question What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@aCVn thanks for the link. limited to wolves only, compared to what I'm looking for, but still an interesting and informative topic
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Please edit your question with clarifications. Never assume people will read through the comments before answering. Along with your clarification to @L.Dutch's question, please explain how these creatures communicate when in their native form and whether or not telepathy is permissible for an answer. Finally, note that "something basic" isn't basic at all. Useful communication requires a fair number of verbs and nouns (e.g., "spear"). How intelligent is this species?
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
Is their shapeshifting "all or nothing"?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are they constrained to existing species, or can do partial/mixed forms? Submitted to your consideration: Isaac Arthur on Alien senses - in particular consider electroreception and magnetoreception. See also Octopus 101 | Communication!.
$endgroup$
– Theraot
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might be interested in my question What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@aCVn thanks for the link. limited to wolves only, compared to what I'm looking for, but still an interesting and informative topic
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Please edit your question with clarifications. Never assume people will read through the comments before answering. Along with your clarification to @L.Dutch's question, please explain how these creatures communicate when in their native form and whether or not telepathy is permissible for an answer. Finally, note that "something basic" isn't basic at all. Useful communication requires a fair number of verbs and nouns (e.g., "spear"). How intelligent is this species?
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is their shapeshifting "all or nothing"?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is their shapeshifting "all or nothing"?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are they constrained to existing species, or can do partial/mixed forms? Submitted to your consideration: Isaac Arthur on Alien senses - in particular consider electroreception and magnetoreception. See also Octopus 101 | Communication!.
$endgroup$
– Theraot
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are they constrained to existing species, or can do partial/mixed forms? Submitted to your consideration: Isaac Arthur on Alien senses - in particular consider electroreception and magnetoreception. See also Octopus 101 | Communication!.
$endgroup$
– Theraot
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might be interested in my question What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might be interested in my question What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@aCVn thanks for the link. limited to wolves only, compared to what I'm looking for, but still an interesting and informative topic
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@aCVn thanks for the link. limited to wolves only, compared to what I'm looking for, but still an interesting and informative topic
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Please edit your question with clarifications. Never assume people will read through the comments before answering. Along with your clarification to @L.Dutch's question, please explain how these creatures communicate when in their native form and whether or not telepathy is permissible for an answer. Finally, note that "something basic" isn't basic at all. Useful communication requires a fair number of verbs and nouns (e.g., "spear"). How intelligent is this species?
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Please edit your question with clarifications. Never assume people will read through the comments before answering. Along with your clarification to @L.Dutch's question, please explain how these creatures communicate when in their native form and whether or not telepathy is permissible for an answer. Finally, note that "something basic" isn't basic at all. Useful communication requires a fair number of verbs and nouns (e.g., "spear"). How intelligent is this species?
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Charades
You could have them shape shift into what they are trying to communicate, in the example you used, a shape shifter would turn into: a person, the number two, a compass pointing north, a spear and a horse.
However, this seems too comical and does not feel like it is in the spirit of what you are asking. Instead, i propose a more serious answer:
Morse Code
Perhaps one of the easiest forms of communication, it is simply a series of short stimuli and long stimuli. This could take the form of anything, the flashing of a light, the noise from the tapping on glass, even tapping on someone’s shoulder so they can feel it. With morse code you can say literally anything in the English language (or any language really, assuming you have sequences that correspond to all of the letters in its alphabet).
One issue with Morse code though is it takes a long time to communicate a message, every sentence is made up of a number of words, each word is made up of several letters, each letter is made up of several short and long stimuli. In short, it takes a long time, you want sentences to be as short as possible to be communicated as fast as possible.
Abbreviated Morse Code
As Morse code takes a long time to communicate, you could instead have codes for words or phrases. You would need a list of common words that your shape shifters would communicate and attach codes to them. For example “... - - - ...” means SOS. In English, SOS is not a word, it is however an abbreviation of Save Our Souls, indicating someone is in danger and needs help.
In your case, you may have abbreviations such as SRD (sword), SPR (spear) MAN/MEN (person/people), HRS (horse) etc. If you then string several of these abbreviations together, you can communicate phrases quite quickly.
You may even have secret phrases communicated through abbreviations. For example, “XRT” may mean “Be alert, the king has left the castle, ready your archers” but there is no possible way you could have guessed that is what XRT meant, not in the same way you could guess SPR means Spear. Only those who were told what the code meant would understand it, preventing spies from intercepting it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
Here is a chart for International Morse Code so you can create your own abbreviations and know how to communicate them.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's...---...
with no extra spacing (not... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to...---...
if sent as a prosign.
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ultrasonic clicks.
Albeit this is much more efficient in a liquid medium (so it's used by dolphins), an acceptable range might be achieved with an ultrasonic "clicking" organ and suitable ears (they needn't be too big).
This could also double as an active echo-location sonar, very useful for scouts.
Once the clicking mechanism is in place, you have a choice between a click-language or using clicks to code another language (this would be Morse code for example).
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Option 1
They can shapeshift their skin to mimic the one of some octopi. In that way the skin can act as a screen, where messages can be displayed and read up to a certain distance. This would enable silent communication, which for certain types of mission is or paramount importance.
Option 2
They can keep a human vocal system, so that they can still articulate speech while in another form.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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votes
$begingroup$
Charades
You could have them shape shift into what they are trying to communicate, in the example you used, a shape shifter would turn into: a person, the number two, a compass pointing north, a spear and a horse.
However, this seems too comical and does not feel like it is in the spirit of what you are asking. Instead, i propose a more serious answer:
Morse Code
Perhaps one of the easiest forms of communication, it is simply a series of short stimuli and long stimuli. This could take the form of anything, the flashing of a light, the noise from the tapping on glass, even tapping on someone’s shoulder so they can feel it. With morse code you can say literally anything in the English language (or any language really, assuming you have sequences that correspond to all of the letters in its alphabet).
One issue with Morse code though is it takes a long time to communicate a message, every sentence is made up of a number of words, each word is made up of several letters, each letter is made up of several short and long stimuli. In short, it takes a long time, you want sentences to be as short as possible to be communicated as fast as possible.
Abbreviated Morse Code
As Morse code takes a long time to communicate, you could instead have codes for words or phrases. You would need a list of common words that your shape shifters would communicate and attach codes to them. For example “... - - - ...” means SOS. In English, SOS is not a word, it is however an abbreviation of Save Our Souls, indicating someone is in danger and needs help.
In your case, you may have abbreviations such as SRD (sword), SPR (spear) MAN/MEN (person/people), HRS (horse) etc. If you then string several of these abbreviations together, you can communicate phrases quite quickly.
You may even have secret phrases communicated through abbreviations. For example, “XRT” may mean “Be alert, the king has left the castle, ready your archers” but there is no possible way you could have guessed that is what XRT meant, not in the same way you could guess SPR means Spear. Only those who were told what the code meant would understand it, preventing spies from intercepting it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
Here is a chart for International Morse Code so you can create your own abbreviations and know how to communicate them.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's...---...
with no extra spacing (not... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to...---...
if sent as a prosign.
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Charades
You could have them shape shift into what they are trying to communicate, in the example you used, a shape shifter would turn into: a person, the number two, a compass pointing north, a spear and a horse.
However, this seems too comical and does not feel like it is in the spirit of what you are asking. Instead, i propose a more serious answer:
Morse Code
Perhaps one of the easiest forms of communication, it is simply a series of short stimuli and long stimuli. This could take the form of anything, the flashing of a light, the noise from the tapping on glass, even tapping on someone’s shoulder so they can feel it. With morse code you can say literally anything in the English language (or any language really, assuming you have sequences that correspond to all of the letters in its alphabet).
One issue with Morse code though is it takes a long time to communicate a message, every sentence is made up of a number of words, each word is made up of several letters, each letter is made up of several short and long stimuli. In short, it takes a long time, you want sentences to be as short as possible to be communicated as fast as possible.
Abbreviated Morse Code
As Morse code takes a long time to communicate, you could instead have codes for words or phrases. You would need a list of common words that your shape shifters would communicate and attach codes to them. For example “... - - - ...” means SOS. In English, SOS is not a word, it is however an abbreviation of Save Our Souls, indicating someone is in danger and needs help.
In your case, you may have abbreviations such as SRD (sword), SPR (spear) MAN/MEN (person/people), HRS (horse) etc. If you then string several of these abbreviations together, you can communicate phrases quite quickly.
You may even have secret phrases communicated through abbreviations. For example, “XRT” may mean “Be alert, the king has left the castle, ready your archers” but there is no possible way you could have guessed that is what XRT meant, not in the same way you could guess SPR means Spear. Only those who were told what the code meant would understand it, preventing spies from intercepting it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
Here is a chart for International Morse Code so you can create your own abbreviations and know how to communicate them.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's...---...
with no extra spacing (not... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to...---...
if sent as a prosign.
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Charades
You could have them shape shift into what they are trying to communicate, in the example you used, a shape shifter would turn into: a person, the number two, a compass pointing north, a spear and a horse.
However, this seems too comical and does not feel like it is in the spirit of what you are asking. Instead, i propose a more serious answer:
Morse Code
Perhaps one of the easiest forms of communication, it is simply a series of short stimuli and long stimuli. This could take the form of anything, the flashing of a light, the noise from the tapping on glass, even tapping on someone’s shoulder so they can feel it. With morse code you can say literally anything in the English language (or any language really, assuming you have sequences that correspond to all of the letters in its alphabet).
One issue with Morse code though is it takes a long time to communicate a message, every sentence is made up of a number of words, each word is made up of several letters, each letter is made up of several short and long stimuli. In short, it takes a long time, you want sentences to be as short as possible to be communicated as fast as possible.
Abbreviated Morse Code
As Morse code takes a long time to communicate, you could instead have codes for words or phrases. You would need a list of common words that your shape shifters would communicate and attach codes to them. For example “... - - - ...” means SOS. In English, SOS is not a word, it is however an abbreviation of Save Our Souls, indicating someone is in danger and needs help.
In your case, you may have abbreviations such as SRD (sword), SPR (spear) MAN/MEN (person/people), HRS (horse) etc. If you then string several of these abbreviations together, you can communicate phrases quite quickly.
You may even have secret phrases communicated through abbreviations. For example, “XRT” may mean “Be alert, the king has left the castle, ready your archers” but there is no possible way you could have guessed that is what XRT meant, not in the same way you could guess SPR means Spear. Only those who were told what the code meant would understand it, preventing spies from intercepting it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
Here is a chart for International Morse Code so you can create your own abbreviations and know how to communicate them.
$endgroup$
Charades
You could have them shape shift into what they are trying to communicate, in the example you used, a shape shifter would turn into: a person, the number two, a compass pointing north, a spear and a horse.
However, this seems too comical and does not feel like it is in the spirit of what you are asking. Instead, i propose a more serious answer:
Morse Code
Perhaps one of the easiest forms of communication, it is simply a series of short stimuli and long stimuli. This could take the form of anything, the flashing of a light, the noise from the tapping on glass, even tapping on someone’s shoulder so they can feel it. With morse code you can say literally anything in the English language (or any language really, assuming you have sequences that correspond to all of the letters in its alphabet).
One issue with Morse code though is it takes a long time to communicate a message, every sentence is made up of a number of words, each word is made up of several letters, each letter is made up of several short and long stimuli. In short, it takes a long time, you want sentences to be as short as possible to be communicated as fast as possible.
Abbreviated Morse Code
As Morse code takes a long time to communicate, you could instead have codes for words or phrases. You would need a list of common words that your shape shifters would communicate and attach codes to them. For example “... - - - ...” means SOS. In English, SOS is not a word, it is however an abbreviation of Save Our Souls, indicating someone is in danger and needs help.
In your case, you may have abbreviations such as SRD (sword), SPR (spear) MAN/MEN (person/people), HRS (horse) etc. If you then string several of these abbreviations together, you can communicate phrases quite quickly.
You may even have secret phrases communicated through abbreviations. For example, “XRT” may mean “Be alert, the king has left the castle, ready your archers” but there is no possible way you could have guessed that is what XRT meant, not in the same way you could guess SPR means Spear. Only those who were told what the code meant would understand it, preventing spies from intercepting it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code
Here is a chart for International Morse Code so you can create your own abbreviations and know how to communicate them.
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
2,379431
2,379431
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's...---...
with no extra spacing (not... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to...---...
if sent as a prosign.
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's...---...
with no extra spacing (not... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to...---...
if sent as a prosign.
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's
...---...
with no extra spacing (not ... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to ...---...
if sent as a prosign.$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
Unrelated to your answer per se, but SOS is a prosign, not three distinct letters. Sent properly in Morse code, it's
...---...
with no extra spacing (not ... --- ...
, as if it were three letters), but with the "dashes" elongenated to be clearly distinguishable from the "dots". Writing it out as SOS is just convention; for example VTB would also come out to ...---...
if sent as a prosign.$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Thoughtful answer. You are right that a form of morse might be time consuming, but I think this is a good idea that might work well, especially if their version of morse was specifically developed with short abbreviations and team communication in mind. It also has the capacity to be pretty quiet if necessary, which could be handy for stealth.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ultrasonic clicks.
Albeit this is much more efficient in a liquid medium (so it's used by dolphins), an acceptable range might be achieved with an ultrasonic "clicking" organ and suitable ears (they needn't be too big).
This could also double as an active echo-location sonar, very useful for scouts.
Once the clicking mechanism is in place, you have a choice between a click-language or using clicks to code another language (this would be Morse code for example).
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ultrasonic clicks.
Albeit this is much more efficient in a liquid medium (so it's used by dolphins), an acceptable range might be achieved with an ultrasonic "clicking" organ and suitable ears (they needn't be too big).
This could also double as an active echo-location sonar, very useful for scouts.
Once the clicking mechanism is in place, you have a choice between a click-language or using clicks to code another language (this would be Morse code for example).
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Ultrasonic clicks.
Albeit this is much more efficient in a liquid medium (so it's used by dolphins), an acceptable range might be achieved with an ultrasonic "clicking" organ and suitable ears (they needn't be too big).
This could also double as an active echo-location sonar, very useful for scouts.
Once the clicking mechanism is in place, you have a choice between a click-language or using clicks to code another language (this would be Morse code for example).
$endgroup$
Ultrasonic clicks.
Albeit this is much more efficient in a liquid medium (so it's used by dolphins), an acceptable range might be achieved with an ultrasonic "clicking" organ and suitable ears (they needn't be too big).
This could also double as an active echo-location sonar, very useful for scouts.
Once the clicking mechanism is in place, you have a choice between a click-language or using clicks to code another language (this would be Morse code for example).
edited 2 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
LSerniLSerni
30.3k25398
30.3k25398
2
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
This could perhaps be combined with Liam Morris' answer for interesting results.
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
You probably meant ultrasonic. Sound waves cannot be supersonic.
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch yes, of course. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– LSerni
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Option 1
They can shapeshift their skin to mimic the one of some octopi. In that way the skin can act as a screen, where messages can be displayed and read up to a certain distance. This would enable silent communication, which for certain types of mission is or paramount importance.
Option 2
They can keep a human vocal system, so that they can still articulate speech while in another form.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Option 1
They can shapeshift their skin to mimic the one of some octopi. In that way the skin can act as a screen, where messages can be displayed and read up to a certain distance. This would enable silent communication, which for certain types of mission is or paramount importance.
Option 2
They can keep a human vocal system, so that they can still articulate speech while in another form.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Option 1
They can shapeshift their skin to mimic the one of some octopi. In that way the skin can act as a screen, where messages can be displayed and read up to a certain distance. This would enable silent communication, which for certain types of mission is or paramount importance.
Option 2
They can keep a human vocal system, so that they can still articulate speech while in another form.
$endgroup$
Option 1
They can shapeshift their skin to mimic the one of some octopi. In that way the skin can act as a screen, where messages can be displayed and read up to a certain distance. This would enable silent communication, which for certain types of mission is or paramount importance.
Option 2
They can keep a human vocal system, so that they can still articulate speech while in another form.
answered 5 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
92.2k29213443
92.2k29213443
1
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Option 1 sounds interesting, displaying messages on yourself. Though if you had fur it might be harder! Option 2 I considered, but I'm not sure that the shape of, say, a wolf's head and mouth would allow some kinds of normal speech, even if a human voicebox, etc. was retained. After all, we make a lot of sounds by manipulating our tongue and lips, not just our vocal tract
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@MarielS A possible work around for that is to use a bird-like voice box, parrots can famously make noises that sound like human speech and they do not posses lips or a tongue like a human’s (even if the noise is not a perfect mimicry of a human’s voice). This may not work in your shape-shifting system though.
$endgroup$
– Liam Morris
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
@LiamMorris You're right, they can! Food for thought
$endgroup$
– MarielS
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
Is their shapeshifting "all or nothing"?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are they constrained to existing species, or can do partial/mixed forms? Submitted to your consideration: Isaac Arthur on Alien senses - in particular consider electroreception and magnetoreception. See also Octopus 101 | Communication!.
$endgroup$
– Theraot
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
You might be interested in my question What sounds would be common for both forms for a human/wolf shapeshifter?
$endgroup$
– a CVn♦
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@aCVn thanks for the link. limited to wolves only, compared to what I'm looking for, but still an interesting and informative topic
$endgroup$
– MarielS
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Please edit your question with clarifications. Never assume people will read through the comments before answering. Along with your clarification to @L.Dutch's question, please explain how these creatures communicate when in their native form and whether or not telepathy is permissible for an answer. Finally, note that "something basic" isn't basic at all. Useful communication requires a fair number of verbs and nouns (e.g., "spear"). How intelligent is this species?
$endgroup$
– JBH
3 hours ago