07-16-2026, 07:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-16-2026, 07:50 PM by Sebastian Cortez.)
Sebastian was excited; hopefully, they would soon have some answers. He double-checked his work, knowing that if he didn’t, the mission would backfire. He was confident in his work but just wanted to make certain. So he checked the algorithm that he and A'kilees had created. That's when it hit him. Working through his 26-letter musical cipher, he couldn’t believe he had hit a structural wall. His instincts about the music were entirely correct, but the framework was too Terran-centric. These beings did not use a 26-character alphabet.
How could I have been so stupid?
Sebastian began running some calculations on his Padd,
[ Here are a few possibilities:
Option 1: Seven-letter alphabet (simplest)
If they used only the diatonic notes:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
They would have only 7 basic symbols. Complex words would rely heavily on rhythm, duration, and context.
Option 2: Twelve-letter alphabet (most likely)
If every semitone were a distinct symbol, their alphabet would be:
C
C♯/D♭
D
D♯/E♭
E
F
F♯/G♭
G
G♯/A♭
A
A♯/B♭
B
This gives 12 primary "letters."
That is analogous to our chromatic scale.
Option 3: Twenty-four letters
Suppose ascending and descending notes have different meanings.
For example:
C↑
C↓
Now every pitch has two forms.
12 × 2 = 24 letters
Option 4: Thirty-six letters
Imagine each pitch can be played in three articulations:
Short
Normal
Sustained
12 × 3 = 36 symbols
Option 5: Forty-eight letters
Suppose dynamics are also phonemic.
Each pitch has:
Soft
Loud
Short
Long
12 × 4 = 48 letters
Option 6: Seventy-two or more
A highly musical civilization might treat these as separate alphabetic elements:
12 pitches
3 octaves
2 dynamics
12 × 3 × 2 = 72 basic letters
Add vibrato, timbre, or attack style and the alphabet could easily exceed 100 distinct symbols.
If they were an advanced species
An advanced civilization might not think in terms of letters at all.
Instead, the smallest unit of language might be a musical chord.
For example:
12 notes taken three at a time gives:
(
3
12
)=220
That would mean 220 basic "characters."
Four-note chords yield:
(
4
12
)=495
Five-note chords:
(
5
12
)=792 ]
The possibilities seemed endless. Sebastian took his Padd over to Lt. Ra’an. ”Excuse me, Lieutenant, I may have made a mistake,” Said Sebastian as he handed Ra’an his Padd. “How would you like me to proceed?” Added Cortez, his voice filled with frustration at having made such a foolish mistake.
== Tag Ra'an.==
How could I have been so stupid?
Sebastian began running some calculations on his Padd,
[ Here are a few possibilities:
Option 1: Seven-letter alphabet (simplest)
If they used only the diatonic notes:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
They would have only 7 basic symbols. Complex words would rely heavily on rhythm, duration, and context.
Option 2: Twelve-letter alphabet (most likely)
If every semitone were a distinct symbol, their alphabet would be:
C
C♯/D♭
D
D♯/E♭
E
F
F♯/G♭
G
G♯/A♭
A
A♯/B♭
B
This gives 12 primary "letters."
That is analogous to our chromatic scale.
Option 3: Twenty-four letters
Suppose ascending and descending notes have different meanings.
For example:
C↑
C↓
Now every pitch has two forms.
12 × 2 = 24 letters
Option 4: Thirty-six letters
Imagine each pitch can be played in three articulations:
Short
Normal
Sustained
12 × 3 = 36 symbols
Option 5: Forty-eight letters
Suppose dynamics are also phonemic.
Each pitch has:
Soft
Loud
Short
Long
12 × 4 = 48 letters
Option 6: Seventy-two or more
A highly musical civilization might treat these as separate alphabetic elements:
12 pitches
3 octaves
2 dynamics
12 × 3 × 2 = 72 basic letters
Add vibrato, timbre, or attack style and the alphabet could easily exceed 100 distinct symbols.
If they were an advanced species
An advanced civilization might not think in terms of letters at all.
Instead, the smallest unit of language might be a musical chord.
For example:
12 notes taken three at a time gives:
(
3
12
)=220
That would mean 220 basic "characters."
Four-note chords yield:
(
4
12
)=495
Five-note chords:
(
5
12
)=792 ]
The possibilities seemed endless. Sebastian took his Padd over to Lt. Ra’an. ”Excuse me, Lieutenant, I may have made a mistake,” Said Sebastian as he handed Ra’an his Padd. “How would you like me to proceed?” Added Cortez, his voice filled with frustration at having made such a foolish mistake.
== Tag Ra'an.==