Extraterrestrial Aliens?

[Foah]

Hi,

Recently, there was a show on German TV moderated partly by Uri Geller (well known? ). They tried to contact extraterrestrial lifeforms. And this is what brought up to me the question:
-Is an "alien" not necessarily "extraterrestrial"?
Somehow I always have the picture of John Carpenters "Alien" in mind when I come to hear that word.

I ask someone to shed some light on this issue. Thanks in advance

Michael
_________________
"Ho ho!" said the clown

[Diverhank]

Michael, in the US, alien(s) is used to describe non-US citizens living in the United States :). They are definitely not extraterrestrial.

[Yankee]

.
Of course, if a Martian (or any being from another planet) decided to live on earth, he/she/it would also be an alien. :wink: :lol:
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Foah]

Hi Diverhank, thank you. Well, I take it, not being a US citizen does not mean being extraterrestrial. :)
But also means being a non-native English user. As such I have another question:
May I say "............ brings me up a question" or were it better to say "...... brings a question up to me"?

Could you, please, help me out with an answer?

Michael
_________________
"Ho ho!" said the clown

[Diverhank]

I think it's more natural to say something like "your answer brings up a (another) question (that I have/that I've been meaning to ask/that's been nagging me...) about..."

[VSPrasad]

alien:

adj.

1. Owing political allegiance to another country or government; foreign: alien residents.
2. Belonging to, characteristic of, or constituting another and very different place, society, or person; strange. See synonyms at foreign.
3. Dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed, as in nature: emotions alien to her temperament.

n.

1. An unnaturalized foreign resident of a country. Also called noncitizen.
2. A person from another and very different family, people, or place.
3. A person who is not included in a group; an outsider.
4. A creature from outer space: a story about an invasion of aliens.
5. Ecology. An organism, especially a plant or animal, that occurs in or is naturalized in a region to which it is not native.

tr.v. Law., -ened, -en·ing, -ens.

To transfer (property) to another; alienate.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin aliēnus, from alius, other.]

Investment Dictionary: Alien

Any person who is not a citizen of the country in which he or she lives.

Investopedia Says:

Aliens are not given the same rights as the citizens of the country in which they live.

Business Dictionary: Alien

One who is not a citizen of the country in which he lives. See also Illegal Alien; Resident Alien.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: alien

In law, one who resides in a country without becoming naturalized, retaining instead the citizenship of another country. The laws of most nations have long afforded aliens certain minimum standards of civilized treatment but have also restricted their employment and ownership of property. Under U.S. law, all aliens have had to register since 1940. Registration cards ("green cards") entitle them to obtain employment. Like citizens, aliens are protected by the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and the due-process clause of the 14th Amendment. They remain subject to limitations under local laws, and residence in the U.S. is not a right but a privilege granted by Congress.

(more....)

http://www.answers.com/alien