Summary

Pages 122 – 129 (Past) Dr. Banks continues her analysis of the heptapods’ two different forms of communication, written and spoken, and makes important discoveries about how the two interact. Specifically, she discovers the complexity of the heptapods’ written language, commenting that “No one could lay out such an intricate design at the speed needed for holding a conversation. At least, no human could” (123).

(Narrative present) Dr. Banks recounts her favorite joke, without reference to her daughter, which relates children blaming parents for everything wrong with their lives.

(Past) While out for dinner at a South Asian restaurant, Dr. Banks and Gary discuss Gary’s inability to learn Heptapod B, and his ability to get by with just a few phrases. They also discuss Dr. Banks’ inability to follow the conversations with the heptapods about physics, and how their respective inabilities render them “even” (124). Dr. Banks then...