the aural encosion theory...

...proposes that each species has a unique auditory framework that limits its ability to fully understand the nuances of another species' vocalizations.

It suggests that if we could tune our hearing to match that of another species, like a dog, we might better appreciate the complexity of their communication.

Conversely, if dogs could be trained to interpret human vocalizations more accurately, it could lead to enhanced interspecies understanding.

The theory raises questions about the potential for bridging the gaps in communication between different species.

(Conceived in the late 90s)

Podcast deep-dive by NotebookLM

Precience of the past meets the technology of the future...

Using AI to Decode Animal Communication (2023) by Aza Raskin

Species-Specific Auditory Frameworks – Both theories recognize that each species has evolved a unique perceptual framework for communication. Raskin discusses how belugas communicate up to 150 kilohertz while humans can only hear up to 20 kilohertz - a perfect example of how one species cannot fully appreciate the nuance of another species' communication because their "ear" isn't tuned to it.

The Translation Problem – "If a dog laughed, would we be able to differentiate that from normal dog sounds?" ...Raskin's work directly addresses this through AI - attempting to decode and translate animal vocalizations that have always been there but invisible to human perception.

Expanding Perceptual Apertures – Raskin repeatedly emphasizes: "Our ability to understand is limited by our ability to perceive." This is essentially the aural encosion theory in action - he's using AI as a tool to "tune our ears" to perceive what was always being communicated.

Bidirectional Communication Gap – the aural encosion theory suggests that if human vocalizations all sound similar to dogs, perhaps dogs' vocalizations all sound similar to us. Raskin demonstrates this empirically - showing that 97% of beluga communication data is thrown away because researchers can't distinguish who's speaking or separate overlapping calls.

The Solution: "Retuning" – The aural encosion theory proposes helping species tune their hearing to appreciate each other's vocal range. Raskin's AI work is essentially creating that "retuning" technology - building models that can perceive and distinguish nuances in animal communication that humans cannot naturally detect.

The aural encosion theory explains why we can't understand; Raskin's project shows how we might be able to.

The aural encosion theory could actually serve as the philosophical foundation for understanding why projects like Earth Species are necessary - we're not just missing data, we're fundamentally "encosed" in our own species-specific perceptual limitations.

Some other references...

Ted Chiang's "Story of Your Life" (1998) – In this science fiction novella, the protagonist, a linguist, attempts to decipher an alien language that is completely different from human language in its structure and perception of time.

Ludwig Wittgenstein's "Language Games" (1953) – The philosopher Wittgenstein proposed that language is inextricably tied to the context and "form of life" in which it is used. He suggested that understanding a language requires understanding the rules and contexts of its use, which may differ between communities or species.

Thomas Nagel's "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" (1974) – In this philosophical essay, Nagel argues that the subjective experience of a bat's perception (primarily through echolocation) is fundamentally inaccessible to human understanding, as our own perceptual framework is so different. This idea parallels the challenges of understanding another species' auditory world.

Frans de Waal's "Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?" (2017) – This non-fiction book explores the complexities of animal cognition and communication, emphasizing the need to study animals on their own terms rather than through a human-centric lens.

Douglas Adams' Babelfish – In "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," (1978) the Babelfish is a small, yellow creature that, when placed in one's ear, allows the user to instantly understand any language spoken to them. This concept is similar to the idea of tuning our hearing to understand the nuances of another species' communication.