Difference between revisions of "Alien languages"

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== AL2 ==
== AL2 ==
[[File:A Venusian Corporation.jpg|right|thumb|AL2]]
[[File:A Venusian Corporation.jpg|right|thumb|AL2]]
The second alien language is more complicated, a variation of the classic autokey cipher, and is not for the faint of heart. Each symbol has a numerical value. To decode a message, the first symbol's value is translated directly into a character (0='A', 1='B', and so on). For the remaining letters, you subtract the previous symbol's numerical value. If the result is less than zero, you add 26. Then that number is converted into a character as before.
The second alien language is more complicated, a variation of the classic autokey cipher, and is not for the faint of heart. Each symbol has a numerical value. To decode a message, the first symbol's value is translated directly into a character (0='A', 1='B', and so on). For the remaining letters, you subtract the previous '''symbol's''' numerical value. If the result is less than zero, you add 26. Then that number is converted into a character as before.


Not until the release of ''[[Bender's Big Score]]'' was the symbol 1 ("B") known. It was not used in the movie, but was released as part of a special feature on the DVD called "Bite My Shiny Metal X", a special lecture discussing the math of ''Futurama''.  
Not until the release of ''[[Bender's Big Score]]'' was the symbol 1 ("B") known. It was not used in the movie, but was released as part of a special feature on the DVD called "Bite My Shiny Metal X", a special lecture discussing the math of ''Futurama''.  
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*In the commentary for "[[A Bicyclops Built for Two]]", David X. Cohen makes note of some fans referring to AL2 as Betacrypt 3. It is seen on a door to a chat room.
*In the commentary for "[[A Bicyclops Built for Two]]", David X. Cohen makes note of some fans referring to AL2 as Betacrypt 3. It is seen on a door to a chat room.
*On the [[Volume 3]] 4-Disc set, after the [[Fox]] Warning screens, there is a message in AL1
*On the [[Volume 3]] 4-Disc set, after the [[Fox]] Warning screens, there is a message in AL1
*AL1 makes an appearance in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' in the episode "[[simpsons:Beware My Cheating Bart|Beware My Cheating Bart]]" while Homer is watching ''[[simpsons:Stranded|Stranded]]'', a spoof on the show ''Lost''.
*AL1 makes [[:File:Beware My Cheating Bart 1.png|an appearance]] in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' in the episode "[[simpsons:Beware My Cheating Bart|Beware My Cheating Bart]]" while Homer is watching ''[[simpsons:Stranded|Stranded]]'', a spoof on the show ''Lost''. The Alienese is printed on a rock and says "Watch Futurama [[season 6|Thursdays]] at 10".


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
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*[http://www.geocities.com/aliens_unlimited/ Aliens Unlimited]
*[http://www.geocities.com/aliens_unlimited/ Aliens Unlimited]
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*[http://bbrp.atwebpages.com/index_eng.html Alien Language Translations]--A {{cat|website|site}} with excellent alien language translations for each episode and other {{cat|media|s=no|''Futurama''-related media|s=no}}.
*[http://bbrp.atwebpages.com/index_eng.html Alien Language Translations]--A {{cat|real-world website|site}} with excellent alien language translations for each episode and other {{cat|media|s=no|''Futurama''-related media|s=no}}.
*[http://cs.oswego.edu/~dreichel/alienese_decoder/ Alienese Decoder WebApp]--A webapp to translate to and from Alienese.
*[http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kingdamian42.alienesedecoder&hl=en Alienese Decoder Android App]--An {{w|Android (operating system)|Android}} [[mobile app|app]] to translate to and from Alienese.


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 22:08, 7 March 2015

AL1 appearing on the DVD

The alien languages in Futurama are set of background jokes, appearing in the background through out the length of the show. The intention of these alien languages was for its viewers to discover how they work and then decipher them, feats at which its fanbase have excelled.

Technically, they are not 'languages' per se, but a ciphered form of English, or more precisely, Latin characters, since not all of their 'translations' are in English.

There are only two of these 'languages' known to exist, or at least deciphered. Some fans believe a 3rd language was introduced in the fourth season, but this has never been confirmed.

For a list of sightings, see list of alien language sightings.

AL1

The first alien language (Alien Language 1; AL1) is a simple substitution cypher. This means that each Latin letter is simply replaced with a new symbol. The script can be translated into English simply by learning each symbol, or by looking it up in a table. Albeit missing the questionmark which looks like an arrow pointing upwards with a dot at the base of the shaft.

In the episode "Leela's Homeworld", the script is referred to as "Alienese".

Symbols

AL2

AL2

The second alien language is more complicated, a variation of the classic autokey cipher, and is not for the faint of heart. Each symbol has a numerical value. To decode a message, the first symbol's value is translated directly into a character (0='A', 1='B', and so on). For the remaining letters, you subtract the previous symbol's numerical value. If the result is less than zero, you add 26. Then that number is converted into a character as before.

Not until the release of Bender's Big Score was the symbol 1 ("B") known. It was not used in the movie, but was released as part of a special feature on the DVD called "Bite My Shiny Metal X", a special lecture discussing the math of Futurama.

Note: If you ever see two identical symbols in a row, the second is always an "A".

Symbols

This translation table shows all known AL2 symbols.

Other Alien Languages

Various Alien Language symbols. The highest one up (in red) is Morse Code.

If two Alien Languages aren't enough, the Futurama writers have also done other Alien Languages that seem to be Gibberish, and have not been translated, like Leela's bracelet under her Wristlojackimator, various symbols in "My Three Suns" and others.

In November 2013, David X. Cohen revealed in an interview that the writers had created a third complete alien language, one which he described as "more cryptographically secure". Due to its complexity, though, the language was never implemented into the show. [1]

Additional Information

Trivia

  • Many fans think that AL1 is Alienese and AL2 is Betacrypt 3. Although Alienese is used to refer to AL1 in "Leela's Homeworld", Betacrypt 3 is never actually linked to either AL1 or AL2. Throughout the audio commentaries, the creators refer to each language as "Alien Language one" and "Alien Language two"—so we use the same standard here.
  • In the commentary for "A Bicyclops Built for Two", David X. Cohen makes note of some fans referring to AL2 as Betacrypt 3. It is seen on a door to a chat room.
  • On the Volume 3 4-Disc set, after the Fox Warning screens, there is a message in AL1
  • AL1 makes an appearance in The Simpsons in the episode "Beware My Cheating Bart" while Homer is watching Stranded, a spoof on the show Lost. The Alienese is printed on a rock and says "Watch Futurama Thursdays at 10".

External Links

References

  1. ^ Ashik Siddique (15 November 2013). No TV Show Has Ever Loved Math as Much as Futurama | Underwire. (Wired.com.) Retrieved on 15 November 2013.