20 Things You Didn't Know About Arrival
4. The Movie's Interesting Wordplay
As is expected in a tale with language and communication as some of its focal themes, Arrival features an intriguing use of English and non-English words to highlight certain plot points. The word ‘kangaroo’ is mentioned when Louise is confronted by Colonel Weber due to her choice to teach the Heptapods English.
She tells the colonel that the word Kangaroo is an Aborigine term for “I don’t know”. Although the story is a myth - it turns out aggressive English settlement and influence means that these words’ true meaning, kangaroo included, were lost in translation - it proves the need for both sides to learn each other’s languages and linguistic nuances.
Another notable word in the film is ‘Szalamitaktika, a Hungarian term that roughly translates to salami tactics. It is referred to by Agent Halpern (Michael Stuhlbarg) in reference to the (false) belief that the alien ships around the world are going to gradually take down humanity piece by piece. It is brief but gives insight into how governments perceived the heptapods’ presence on Earth.