Yeah the Tamarians talk in memes, which is where our language is also heading

It would work, but it would still be a very limiting form of verbal communication as its inherently limited to a pre-defined set of references as opposed to more standard grammatical construction where words can be combined in new and flexible ways to convey novel ideas. It would be like trying to compose a letter with nothing but auto suggestions.

To use a metaphor, you might not have to know the precise origin of the metaphor, but there would still be a need for an underlying understanding of the words and syntax used in the metaphor. For example "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink". Even if the listener didn't quite understand the precise meaning, they would still have to understand horse, water, drink, lead etc. and the underlying syntax which glues it all together. "Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra." might seem like gibberish, but there's still an underlying grammar and logical word order (logical according to most western languages anyway. Latin relies on word ending "declensions" rather than strict word order). Note that it isn't "Darmok, Jalad, Tanagra, and at." Even if in gaming we hear "WTF dude, you're over there camping and I got zerged! You always ghost when I wanna rush!" there is still a bunch of grammatical stuff happening for the sentences to make sense, even if the references are unclear to the uninitiated. Presumably the universal translator can pick out the verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, nouns etc. even if it doesn't understand the meaning of the metaphors. That would mean there is a regular, predictable, and (at least sometime) precise baseline of words and their meaning. Imagine building a Tamarians spacecraft "How high should the ceilings be in the main cabin?" "Over the ocean, the sail fell wide." "What's the energy output of the main engine?" "Cup filled for no one, the day has turned". That might be the way they speak, but unless there is a precise meaning to those metaphors (2.5 meters, 4,000,000 gigawatts or whatever) then it would be impossible to build anything exact enough to fly in space.

@@kev3d Oh I totally agree, it's just that online culture made the Tamarians seem a little less outlandish, to me at least.

@@kev3d The best theory I've seen is that there might be some sort of written or symbol based component that is better able to communicate those sorts of complex ideals, but when you really think about it, this is one of those sci-fi ideas that seems cool but wouldn't really work in reality, for the exact reasons you mentioned.

Years later in university it inspired me to write a paper on Gilgamesh. I got an A.

Did you try slowing down random words? The more complex the better! So long as we repeat it over and over louder and slower each time!

Did you like his character? I did however brief it was, I think he will have some good development.

I mean they should be able to. to speak their analogies, they have all of the necessary grammar and words. they just have to learn to create new metaphors. instead of saying whatever their names are at tenagra. he could have just said, Picard and whatever his name is on this planet. Picard and X fight a beast. Picard and X become friends. He could have done that. UNLESS, what we're hearing is the universal translator and not them. "Y and Z at Tenagra" is one word or inseperable sentence in their language.

It was established in the episode that the universal translator could now largely translate their metaphorical language, though some metaphors were still translated literally.

@@marshallhuffer4713 I dont rember that part and I mean I am sure will see more of him it's just Lower decks really does show how kind of ridiculous the star trek universe is or can be lol( a good example is that for some reason the paclids are now a serious threat)

The universal translation still messes up some time.

I agree. That's probably why it's so frustrating. It's the 24th century. We have universal translators, advanced computer AI in the ship's computer, advanced AI in an android, and a empath yet we're still yelling.

It may just be the Ferengi version that’s an ear implant. They do have extra room to store things in there!

@@DissociatedWomenIncorporated Gross!

Ha! So true! "There. Are. FOUR! Lights!"

Red Letter Media have the monster costume's mask and it's even worse than you can imagine. I don't know if they decided to apply that visual effect in an attempt to hide how awful it is, or if they half-assed the costume in the assumption that the visual effect would make it look good. Either way… yikes.

You liked this better than cause and effect?

Transporter malfunctions were only deadly if you wore a red shirt. Later the systems were upgraded to only be deadly if you don't have more than a full pip.

@@canadiannomad2330 That explains a lot. Thanks.

var1 hs_rms_opn; shaka_w_f; darmok+gilad=>tenagra;

@@RichGilly HA google is offering me translations on this... IRONY

The Tamarian ship was sending signals towards Federation space, so they deduced that they wanted to meet.

They have a non original, a fake basically that's why he throws it around like a toy on set...u believed he'd had the real one and damagaged it on purpose

Saying things louder, slower, and more agro is basically what I've seen every English speaker do when they're somewhere that people don't speak English ...

Troi, her legs wide!

Riker, his face smooth.

But suede was all the range in 1992!

@@gcooper642 I guess it becomes fashionable again in 2365 :)

I agree. It's pretty awkward.

The awesomeness of Enemy Mine is why so many sci-fi shows make so many episodes inspired from it.

"Tuvix" is great!

@@Reggie1408 The entire internet would disagree. That's why you like it.

@@REPORTEVERYLIBERALCOMMENT Tuvix is fine, Enterprise does the concept much better in Similitude though

@@wewlad8697 Tuvix as a character is an unholy abomination that literally gets murdered for being such a toxic character. With extreme prejudice. I'll anchor my opinion to that most epic ending.

While I too dislike this episode, it's nowhere near that bad. Come now.