Codes and Languages
Let's talk about codes - in space!
A cypher is a message written in a secret code. Sometimes these codes aren't so secret, like Morse Code and Binary Code. Let's talk about those first, before we talk about secret codes. Scroll to the end for an activity!
Morse Code in Space
The tracks of the Curiosity Rover tell us a little secret. The treds say "JPL". This stands for Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA's center that is located in Southern California. Clearly they don't just work on jets there. When they designed the wheels for this Mars Rover they chose to leave a little treat for everyone to find. You can read more about it on JPL's website:
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/rover-leaves-tracks-in-morse-codeThe Perseverance Mars Rover also has a little something special in Morse Code. The rays of the sun on this faceplate say "Explore as one".
Cnet reported on this, here's a link if you want to read more. https://www.cnet.com/science/nasas-perseverance-rover-is-carrying-a-coded-message-to-mars/
A bit about other codes.
Binary Code
"Dare Mighty Things" is what this parachute says, in Binary. Binary is a language that is used in computing. It is made up of just 1 and 0, or in the case of the message on the parachute, neutral white and international orange. Read more about it here:
Navajo Code Talkers
I can't make a post about codes without mentioning the great Navajo Code Talkers. The Navajo people are indigenous to America. They have their own language, which is quite complex and difficult for outsiders to learn. During World War 2, the Japanese military was especially good at breaking all of America's codes! The USA couldn't move troops anywhere without people on the other side of the war finding out about it. They were always listening in! Then someone heard their friends speaking in Navajo and had the idea that it was the perfect unbreakable code. It didn't take long to convince the military to give it a shot. Here is a photo of cousins working together in the South Pacific to send a message.
There were about 400 Navajo people who worked as Code Talkers for the USA's military during World War 2. Most of them served in the Marines. They were just speaking to each other in their own language! You can read more about it from this piece in the National Archives, here: https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2001/winter/navajo-code-talkers.html
What Languages do we Speak?
- American English
- ASL
- Spanish
- French
Our family speaks English primarily. We use a lot of American Sign Language, too. The children are learning Spanish in school. Us parents also speak French, but our children do not know much of this language yet. They can tell when I switch to French and remind me that I am not speaking in English.
Code Switching
I am terrible at "code switching". This is a fancy way of describing how some people are great at speaking with one group of people in one language and another language with another group of people. It is used to describe dialects and accents as well. It's different than translation, which is when you explain what someone says in one language to someone who speaks another language. Some people are excellent at both translating and code switching. I am not one of those people. I lose track and use the wrong language. Can you code switch?
Easiest Language for you?
What language is easiest for you to communicate in? It isn't always your first language!
I grew up speaking English and started learning Spanish at a young age. I started learning American Sign Language and French in high school. The French language quickly became so fluid for me, I found it easier to speak than English. I studied a lot of French in college, and even lived in French immersion housing and did semesters abroad in Francophone (fancy word for French-speaking) countries. At this point, I am mostly fluent in French for conversational purposes. I have forgotten a lot of my technical and scientific French vocabulary. But... when I am tired - my brain defaults to French! I begin speaking in French instead of English! Oops 😆
ASL = American Sign Language
Did you know that someone made a glove that converts ASL finger spelling into type?
And they also made a system that goes the other way - from text to finger spelled graphics!
They did this work in Matlab. 🤯
And they used a few fun plays on words throughout their write-up, like saying "On the other hand..."
☝️🤭😂
Here's a link to a scientific paper about it.
Here is a link to another blog post where you can learn more about why we (a hearing family) choose to sign.
What languages do you know?
Share about them with the young people in your life. Each language brings with it a perspective - a different way of looking at the world.
Activity
Have your child make a code of their own. Write each letter and the symbol beside it for what it means. Write messages to each other in code.
Our 10 year old has been enjoying codes for a while. Here's a picture of a code that I came across in the playroom. Shhh, it's a secret.
In junior high my friends and I regularly wrote to each other in code. It was a lot of fun. We would regularly switch things up so other people wouldn't catch on. We also folded our papers in special ways so they would fit in the palm of our hands and each cypher could be passed discretely.
LEGO Morse Code
Love LEGO? Love code?
Check out this activity from How Wee Learn about building Morse Code with LEGO.
Here's a photo from their blog to get you excited about their materials.
Printable
Here are some free printables to get your children thinking about codes. Picklebums is a blogger with really great ideas. Their website does have ads. Here's a link.
More Questions to Ask
Do you like making codes?
Do you know any languages that could be used as a code?
Codes can be a lot of fun! Enjoy making codes today!
Stories with codes
Pickelbums made a great list of children's books about codes! Here's a picture with some of them.
Here's a link to their story list:
Scavenger Hunt with Codes
We loved the way that Occuplaytional Therapist incorporated codes into a scavenger hunt activity.
Here's a post on Facebook where people are talking about it: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/iJV9FcTNmQ9239Vj/?mibextid=xfxF2i
Here's a link to a blog post where they introduce codes: https://www.occuplaytional.com/2023/01/16/spy-code-beginner-mode/
And a picture to grab your attention.
Here is their blog post that explains their advanced code activity: https://www.occuplaytional.com/2023/01/17/spy-code-intermediate-expert-mode/
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