We can learn C++ without without knowing binary because we have C++ documentation written in human languages. Likewise, the Tamarians need a non-metaphorical language to explain their metaphors.
They have it. “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” contains the words “and” and “at”. Other phrases include words like “his”, “eyes”, “opened”, “when”, “the”, “walls”, “fell”, “on”, “ocean”, etc. That’s the binary. What’s interesting is that they seem incapable of understanding binary on its own anymore, and only know C++.
It’s easy to forget, there is a universal translator in between that is at the root of the misunderstanding. This isn’t really a higher level language coming up against a lower one. It’s a compiler coming across syntax it wasn’t designed for.
We can learn C++ without without knowing binary because we have C++ documentation written in human languages. Likewise, the Tamarians need a non-metaphorical language to explain their metaphors.
They have it. “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” contains the words “and” and “at”. Other phrases include words like “his”, “eyes”, “opened”, “when”, “the”, “walls”, “fell”, “on”, “ocean”, etc. That’s the binary. What’s interesting is that they seem incapable of understanding binary on its own anymore, and only know C++.
It’s easy to forget, there is a universal translator in between that is at the root of the misunderstanding. This isn’t really a higher level language coming up against a lower one. It’s a compiler coming across syntax it wasn’t designed for.
It’s cute plot dressing that seems clever it you don’t think about it too much.