Heptapod (alien race)

The heptapods are an alien race featured in Ted Chiang's short story Story of Your Life.

Physiology

The heptapod are radially symmetrical aliens with seven legs. Four legs are used for locomotion while the remaining three are used as arms. Along the top of its barrel-shaped body are seven eyes and a breathing orifice. Underneath is a mouth-anus surrounded by articulated bony ridges used for mastication.

Homeworld

Half of the surface of their homeworld is covered by water. Orbiting the planet are two moons, one of which is markedly larger than the other. The three primary elements of the Heptapod homeworld's atmosphere are nitrogen, argon and oxygen.

Language

These sophonts have two forms of language. A free-form spoken language without tenses or word-order known as Heptapod A. It is used informally between other heptapods and the beings encountered during their travels. The written heptapod language, Heptapod B, uses a two-dimensional grammar which can be compared to the structure of mathematical equations and musical notation. Using Heptapod B presumes the writer knows how the sentence will end. It is uncertain if this implies prescience on the part of the heptapods or determinism.