The Linguistic Shape of Things to Come

Abstract Published in 1958, The Languages of Pao by Jack Vance is one the earliest linguistic speculations science fiction genre. Directly inspired Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, it describes a complex, engineering experiment set up to transform essentially peaceful nature inhabitants planet Pao, so that they might stand invaders from another planet. It does through creation and implementation three new languages, as opposed already speak, create merchant class, technical warrior class. While Vance’s extrapolation excessively schematic, certainly leans heavily on concept relativism now sounds rather dated, other writers have explored different ways idea language influences thought perception world, beginning with Babel 17 Samuel Delany, Ted Chiang’s Story Your Life (on which film Arrival Denis Villeneuve based). But particular importance here Mother Tongue Suzette Haden Elgin. Her novel dystopian, patriarchal future, where group linguists creates an artificial language, Làadan, better express women’s life act resistance dominant male-centred culture, thus anticipating many themes today’s debate gender.