Hey little insect crawling on top of my work monitor. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be outside with the other insects?
... I mean, we both know you're illiterate.
You make me wonder...
Does an insect or any other non-human being really comprehend that there are words to be read on a page or screen.
What level of intelligence is required to recognize some other being's abilities, ones "we" lack?
Are we in SETI, even listening to the frequencies which aliens use? (not a new question)
@Algot Higher mammals, some birds, and maybe a couple of reptiles are intelligent enough to recognize patterns. Great Apes of various kinds are, if not wholly sentient, at least semi or near/pre-sentient.
As for Seti, I hav no answer for that. Chances are anyone who could communicate across vast interstellar instances doen't give a hot shit about a type-0 civvy on a crapball planet.
@Surasanji
I am reminded of a book/series by C.J.Cherrh: "Foreigner" which has alien/human communication as a central feature.