The global, primary goal of all those who are interested in the problem of SETI is to learn how to capture signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. Suppose that one day this happened, and humanity managed to catch a signal from an extraterrestrial intelligence. But what to do next, after this signal has been caught? How will humanity understand those who sent this signal, and, moreover, understand what kind of message was sent with it? After all, the most exciting thing about this problem is not the fact of the signal being captured, but to understand who sent it and why it has been sent in the first place. In this regard, the main question arises: in which language should we communicate with them, with these mysterious senders?

To better understand how to find the answers to these questions, scientists create entire scientific organizations dedicated to this problem. For example, there is an interdisciplinary research centre created by the staff of the University of Cambridge; one of the research areas of this institute is engaged in the search for a universal language for communicating with extraterrestrial civilizations. Several university researchers have thoroughly approached the issue and took part in writing a unique book “Xenolinguistics: Toward a Science of Extraterrestrial Language”, which explores the theoretical and practical challenges involved in understanding and communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence through language. It is an interdisciplinary work that combines insights from linguistics, cognitive science, anthropology, astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The authors discuss how humans might recognize, interpret, and respond to alien languages, considering that extraterrestrial communication could be fundamentally different from any human language due to differences in biology, culture, perception, and cognition.

This book brings together a diverse group of experts from multiple disciplines, each offering unique viewpoints. Rather than presenting final conclusions,  the aim of the work is to highlight the intersections and contrasts among these varied fields. The discussions are organized around three central themes: animal communication, human language and linguistics and broader communication systems. By mapping out what humanity currently knows — and where the gaps in this knowledge exist – the authors hope to advance toward a unified science of language and communication, one that acknowledges both its universal principles and fundamental complexities. Through this blend of imagination and grounded research, humanity may uncover new insights not only about potential extraterrestrial communication but also about ourselves.

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