I am reminded of a scene at the end of the Sci Fi novel &quot;The Mote in God&#x27;s Eye&quot; (note: title describes appearance of a local asterism - the book is a &quot;first contact&quot; type story).  The alien ambassadors come back to meet the human politicians who throw a parade and start speechifying.  The boss alien asks the translator minions &quot;What is he saying?&quot;, to which they respond ... &quot;but he has said nothing!&quot;<p>&quot;Then you shall respond in kind.&quot;