Arrival2016

Col. Weber:
You have a vocabulary list for me?

Dr. Louise Banks:
I do.

Col. Weber:
You're gonna teach them, your name, and Ian's?

Dr. Louise Banks:
Yes, so that we can learn their names, if they have names, and then introduce pronouns later.

Col. Weber:
These are all grade-school words. Eat. Walk. Help me understand.

[Dr. Banks writes "What is your purpose on Earth?" on the whiteboard]

Dr. Louise Banks:
Okay, this is where you want to get to, right?

Col. Weber:
That is the question.

Dr. Louise Banks:
Okay. So, first, we need to make sure that they understand what a question is. The nature of a request for information, along with a response. Then, we need to clarify the difference between a specific "you"...and a collective "you", because we don't want to know why 'Joe Alien' is here, we want to know why they all landed. And purpose requires an understanding of intent. We need to find out: do they make conscious choices, or is their motivation so instinctive that they don't understand a "why" question at all. And biggest of all, we need to have enough vocabulary with them, that we understand their answer.

Col. Weber:
I get it. Stick to your list. Just...Don't add anything to it.