From Page to Screen:

Examining Symbolism,
Narrative Structure, and the
Power of Language in Ted
Chiang's 'Story of Your Life' and
its Movie Adaptation 'Arrival'
By Lewinda Jotari
 outline

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Introduction Language and Narrative symbolism Free will or
communication
structure and determinism?
style

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Introduction
• Ted Chiang is by far my 2nd most favorite short story
writer. He is an acclaimed science fiction author
known for his thought-provoking and deeply
imaginative short stories.
• 'Story of Your Life' is a compelling exploration of
time, language, and human connection. This short
story was made into a movie called “arrival”
• The story centers around Dr. Louise Banks, a
linguist tasked with deciphering the complex
language of an alien species called Heptapods. As
she learns their language, her perception of time and
reality begins to shift, leading to profound insights
and challenging questions about the nature of
existence. 3
characters
Louise Banks: a linguist enlisted by the United States
Army to discover how to communicate with
extraterrestrials who have arrived on Earth before tensions
lead to war.

Ian/Gary Donnelly: a theoretical physicist who is tasked

with an unprecedented challenge when extraterrestrial
spacecrafts land around Earth

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Language and
communication

Its connection to the

narrative
 “ Language plays a crucial role
in 'Story of Your Life,'
particularly in how it shapes
our understanding of time and

”
reality, and how Chiang
shapes the narrative

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 In the book:
“Humans had developed a sequential mode of awareness,
while heptapods had developed a simultaneous mode of
awareness. We experienced events in an order, and
perceived their relationship as cause and effect. They
experienced all events at once, and perceived a purpose
underlying them all. A minimizing, maximizing purpose.”

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 THINKING IN ITS LANGUAGE
• The idea of thinking in a linguistic yet nonphonological mode always
intrigued me. I had a friend born of deaf parents; he grew up using
American Sign Language, and he told me that he often thought in ASL
instead of English. I used to wonder what it was like to have one’s
thoughts be manually coded, to reason using an inner pair of hands
instead of an inner voice. With Heptapod B, I was experiencing
something just as foreign: my thoughts were becoming graphically
coded. There were trance-like moments during the day when my thoughts
weren’t expressed with my internal voice; instead, I saw semagrams with
my mind’s eye, sprouting like frost on a windowpane. As

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 In the book:
"Eventually I started thinking in their script, and
that's when I could integrate the semagrammar with
the logograms. That's when I learned Heptapod B.
That's when I started experiencing memories of the
future" (Louise Banks, "Story of Your Life").

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In the movie, the explanation of this language changing one’s perception
and thinking is simple and straightforward

Ian Donnelly: If you immerse yourself into a foreign language, then you
can actually rewire your brain.
Louise Banks: Yeah, the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. It's the theory that the
language you speak determines how you think and...
Ian Donnelly: Yeah, it affects how you see everything.

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 Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis in shaping the
narrative
• "The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, also known as linguistic relativity or
determinism, is a theory that suggests the structure of a language can
influence/determine the way its speakers think, perceive, and understand
reality.

• the story showcases the challenges of not only understanding an alien

language but also conveying concepts and ideas across vastly different
species. In doing so, they uncover deeper insights into their own
understanding of time and causality.

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 HOW SO?

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The
Narrative
structure
and style
 Ian’s linier timeline

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 The Heptapod’s Language
• Heptapod is fundamentally different, using circular, intricate logograms
instead of sequential symbols.

• Heptapod logograms represent entire sentences or complex ideas, rather

than individual words or phrases. The logograms are designed in such a
way that all parts of the sentence or idea are interconnected, reflecting the
Heptapods' holistic perception of time and events.

• In a way, there is no endings and beginnings

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 Louise’s circular timeline

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Non-Linier Narrative
In 'Story of Your Life,' Ted Chiang employs a
non-linear narrative structure that closely
mirrors the Heptapods' perception of time (the
Heptapods experience time in a holistic
manner, with past, present, and future
occurring simultaneously).

The movie also applied the same thing but in a

simpler way visually that the audience can
understand

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the protagonist, Louise Banks, shares her experiences
working with the Heptapods interspersed with
memories of her past and her daughter's life.

For example: Louise recalls the moment of her

daughter's conception, interweaving with her present-
day efforts to decipher the Heptapod language.

This non-linear presentation of events makes you think

that Louise recalls her past, but it was actually her
future. So, challenges you to reevaluate your
understanding of time and causality."
Louise’s emotional journey

the narrative structure effectively conveys her emotional

journey and changing perception of reality. Readers get a
glimpse into Louise's evolving worldview and are
encouraged to empathize with her struggle to reconcile her
newfound understanding of time with the events in her
life, particularly those concerning her daughter.

The movie emphasized this emotional journey more

profoundly

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 Grammar and visual
The movie visualize louise’ memory of the future as hazy,
dreamy, as though we were recalling her past life with her. Only
then we knew it was not her past
Click icon to add picture
The book uses future tense when she narrates the story of her
daughter:
“When you're three and we're climbing a steep, spiral flight of
stairs, I'll hold your hand extra tightly. You'll pull your hand
away from me. "I can do it by myself," you'll insist, and then
move away from me to prove it, and I'll remember that dream.”

And the narration is more personal and emotional

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 symbolism
​
​ SPACE CRAFT THE LOGOGRAM
In 'Story of Your Life,' Ted
Chiang utilizes various
symbols and imagery to
convey the story's themes
and enhance the narrative's
impact. ​

But the movie created the

visually so perfectly

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Free will or determinism?

“Freedom isn't an illusion; it's perfectly real in the context

of sequential consciousness. Within the context of
simultaneous consciousness, freedom is not meaningful,
but neither is coercion; it's simply a different context, no
more or less valid than the other. It's like that famous
optical illusion, the drawing of either an elegant young
woman, face turned away from the viewer, or a wart-
nosed crone, chin tucked down on her chest. There's no
“correct” interpretation; both are equally valid. But you
can't see both at the same time.

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Free will or determinism?

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In "Story of Your Life," Louise Banks starts to see time
differently. She begins to see everything happening all at
once – past, present, and future, making her think about free
will and determinism

Louise knows that some sad things will happen in her life,
like her daughter eventually passing away. But even though Click icon to add picture
she knows what's coming, Louise decides to live her life to
the fullest and enjoy the good times, too.

The movie: Despite knowing the journey and where it leads,

I embrace it and welcome every moment of it

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 Summary
• narrative structure, and the power of language in both
Ted Chiang's "Story of Your Life" and its movie
adaptation, "Arrival." We have seen how the key
symbols, such as the Heptapod spacecraft, circular
logograms, and moments in Louise's life, are portrayed
in both works and how they contribute to the exploration
of themes like time, language, and perception.

• We have also discussed the creative choices made in

adapting the short story to film, such as the more linear
narrative structure in "Arrival" and the emphasis on
visual storytelling, creating a unique cinematic
experience that brings the story's themes to life while
offering a new perspective on the original narrative

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