Since the heptapods know the outcome already, why did they start off with verbal communication (growling not producible by humans) and not go straight to the visual form from the first contact?

Presumably since the heptapods have a long association with humans (present and 3000 years in the future), why haven't they found some key of using the future to communicate in the present (i.e. like how Amy's character communicates with General Shang by using a future interaction)? Instead it seems like the heptapods take an uncecessary risk by miscommunicating "tool" as "weapon".

And lastly, what did Amy tell General Shang on the phone to get him to stand down? Presumably, she just told him exactly what he tells her in the future. The introduction... here are the words of your dead wife, that I would only know if you told me. The key to the alien language unlocking the perception of time and how the aliens are here to give this as a "gift" (and not "weapon") in order to allow the humans to save the aliens in 3000 years.

It seems like the obvious way an advanced civilization could come to earth is already knowing how to communicate with humans (how hard can it be?) and then say "We come in peace bearing a gift" instead of being so mysterious. Of course, then it would be a completely different kind of movie.

Since the heptapods know the outcome already, why did they start off with verbal communication (growling not producible by humans) and not go straight to the visual form from the first contact?

Presumably since the heptapods have a long association with humans (present and 3000 years in the future), why haven't they found some key of using the future to communicate in the present (i.e. like how Amy's character communicates with General Shang by using a future interaction)? Instead it seems like the heptapods take an uncecessary risk by miscommunicating "tool" as "weapon".

And lastly, what did Amy tell General Shang on the phone to get him to stand down? Presumably, she just told him exactly what he tells her in the future. The introduction... here are the words of your dead wife, that I would only know if you told me. The key to the alien language unlocking the perception of time and how the aliens are here to give this as a "gift" (and not "weapon") in order to allow the humans to save the aliens in 3000 years.

It seems like the obvious way an advanced civilization could come to earth is already knowing how to communicate with humans (how hard can it be?) and then say "We come in peace bearing a gift" instead of being so mysterious. Of course, then it would be a completely different kind of movie.