Mermaid song (and other undersea communication methods)

This came up in another thread, but it seems an interesting topic to discuss. Basically, it started with someone raising the question. "How do mermaids talk while underwater?" Since spoken words, like we use, transfer poorly in a liquid environment.

That raises a broader question in general of how sentient undersea creatures communicate, but for now, let's just stick to mermaids. My first idea was for a type of sign language or body language. I imagine other creatures have their own variants of sign language as well (Chleana flashing their bodies different colors, for example). My other idea for mermaids, was for them to communicate through a type of singing, similar to whale song.

Whale song

Anime-Junkie expanded on this idea with another post

Quote :

Well, I see it like this. Underwater mermaids "sing" their messages in a special language that was meant to be sung underwater. The pitches and tones used aren't distorted by water and so they can communicate. It would sound a bit like whale song but more modulated and possibly a higher pitch, although it would depend on the individual mermaid.
Of course, sung above water this wouldn't work and would sound different.

This also explains why mermaids are reputed to have such good singing voices, it's their method of communication.

I think its a pretty interestng idea, and could help explain how mermaids communicate underwater. For story purposes, the author could just show them talking normally of course, imposing a translation on the song. But I think mentioning the song, even if you auto-translate it could help add some more depth to mermaids in Felarya stories.

So now to the point of this thread. I'd like some feedback on this idea, as well as some ideas about how other undersea races communicate.

The only other one I've thought about were the Chlaenas, which could likely use their color-changing ability to flash their bodies in specific ways to relay messages. Kind of like sign-language, but with colors.

I like that idea. I also wonder if such excellent singing voices would apply well to spells such as magic songs and if their great voices makes said type of spell more powerful than the norm.

rcs619 wrote:

This came up in another thread, but it seems an interesting topic to discuss. Basically, it started with someone raising the question. "How do mermaids talk while underwater?" Since spoken words, like we use, transfer poorly in a liquid environment.

That raises a broader question in general of how sentient undersea creatures communicate, but for now, let's just stick to mermaids. My first idea was for a type of sign language or body language. I imagine other creatures have their own variants of sign language as well (Chleana flashing their bodies different colors, for example). My other idea for mermaids, was for them to communicate through a type of singing, similar to whale song.

Whale song

Anime-Junkie expanded on this idea with another post

Quote :

Well, I see it like this. Underwater mermaids "sing" their messages in a special language that was meant to be sung underwater. The pitches and tones used aren't distorted by water and so they can communicate. It would sound a bit like whale song but more modulated and possibly a higher pitch, although it would depend on the individual mermaid.
Of course, sung above water this wouldn't work and would sound different.

This also explains why mermaids are reputed to have such good singing voices, it's their method of communication.

I believe it originally went like this:

MSN chatlog:

rcs619 wrote:

I think its a pretty interestng idea, and could help explain how mermaids communicate underwater. For story purposes, the author could just show them talking normally of course, imposing a translation on the song. But I think mentioning the song, even if you auto-translate it could help add some more depth to mermaids in Felarya stories.

So now to the point of this thread. I'd like some feedback on this idea, as well as some ideas about how other undersea races communicate.

The only other one I've thought about were the Chlaenas, which could likely use their color-changing ability to flash their bodies in specific ways to relay messages. Kind of like sign-language, but with colors.

That might be a problem in darker waters, the colours wouldn't be visible. Maybe pheromone encoded ink for dark waters?

Don't Chlaneas flash, indicating that they are producing light like angler fishes?

Sean Okotami wrote:

Don't Chlaneas flash, indicating that they are producing light like angler fishes?

When cliff said "flash" he was referring to a quick change of colour, not actual light production.
Confirmed in the wiki:
"Due to millions of specialized cells in their skin called chromatophores, chlaenas are able to rapidly change the color of their entire body, or select parts of it."

Oh, that works. But we're digressing here.

It's definitely a cool explanation and one that makes sense

I would still like to know if Mermaids can use magic songs similar to bards and if their magnificent voice make the song spells more effective and/or powerful.

The problem with songs is that you can only convey so much a message at once. "Avoid this area, dangerous." "Prey, lots of it." "Friends, let's play." You can't do very specific stuff with it. So long as that's remembered, it's good. Of course, this is Felarya: Make sure the rough limits are known ahead of time. We don't need exact limits, but it's pretty much proven that if you give someone an inch ("Giant Predators are tough for their size," "Prey Mages can get powerful") they'll take a mile ("Giant Predators are only stung by a spam of a couple dozen missiles," "My Neko Mage can waste city blocks per spell").

Of course, I'm working off real physics in anime-physics (look at some characters and say they're low fantasy ) universe. Even LotR allows things that normally convey minimal content (Bird chirps) to be entire comprehensive languages. It's just a personal preference of mine that it's limited in scope, in part biased by how the songs work IRL. If the idea is to make it full on language, well, it's your idea and Karbo's realm after all.

Didn't Cliff said it was a language that can be used underwater? Surely they can use normal speech through it. I mean, there's no human language on Earth that can only be sung.

Sean Okotami wrote:

Didn't Cliff said it was a language that can be used underwater? Surely they can use normal speech through it. I mean, there's no human language on Earth that can only be sung.

Was just referring to it being exactly like a whale song. With that, you're predominantly using notes. You might be able to work out tunes amongst friends with more exact meanings (similar to how you can remind someone of the lyrics of a specific song they heard with just the music), but without actual words it'd be difficult to convey very complex messages.

But isn't it completely translated? In multiple stories, mermaids have been able to use fairly complex and intricate sentences that were translated in human language. So by that logic, they can speak very similarly to humans among themselves, just in a different meaning of conveying words.

Sean Okotami wrote:

But isn't it completely translated? In multiple stories, mermaids have been able to use fairly complex and intricate sentences that were translated in human language. So by that logic, they can speak very similarly to humans among themselves, just in a different meaning of conveying words.

The difference was more akin to Humming and Singing-Singing. Whale "Songs" are more akin to "Humming" Songs. For example, "Hm hm, hmmmmmm, hm-hm-hmhm". You probably have no idea what I hummed / song. Now, "It's the, Beaaaar, ne-ce-sities."

In theory, a song could be just as complicated as a "real" language. Differences in pitch, tone, tempo, structure...it can all help to convey different, more intricate meanings. This would mean that mermaids would need extremely precise hearing, and be very skilled at controlling the sounds they produce (mermaids ARE known for being good singers, afterall) though.

Combine the song with different types of gestures and body language, and you have the potential for a very complex and potentially intricate language.

rcs619 wrote:

Combine the song with different types of gestures and body language, and you have the potential for a very complex and potentially intricate language.

If we're combining with gestures and body language, I assume these songs are occurring at much closer ranges than what I was imagining (which was a few miles out)?

Actually, the thought of singing underwater to communicate sounds very plausible. And yeah, it would definitely explain how they're reputed to have such good voices.

Malahite wrote:

rcs619 wrote:

Combine the song with different types of gestures and body language, and you have the potential for a very complex and potentially intricate language.

If we're combining with gestures and body language, I assume these songs are occurring at much closer ranges than what I was imagining (which was a few miles out)?

I imagine a lot of it is at close range. Ocean or not, this is still Felarya. You don't wanna just go all over the place shouting =P

There are bigger, meaner things in the sea than just mermaids.

That's not to say that it isn't possible, just that they're not going to be doing it much unless they know it's safe.

Well I like the idea. I put that on my list

Alright I added it. thank you for that description again

Karbo wrote:

Alright I added it. thank you for that description again

I'm glad to contribute.

Little late to the proverbial party here, but I'll just chime in anyway to say that I think this was a fantastic idea.

As the proud owner of a mermaid character, I'm a little embarrassed it didn't occur to me that a spoken language that works above water would be unintelligible under water, and vice-versa. Thank you and well done.