Native Tongue
In the 22nd century, Earth's economy hinges on interplanetary trade, controlled by a powerful elite of linguists. Within this society, women are stripped of their rights and relegated to roles of breeding and servitude. Nazareth Chornyak, a gifted linguist, toils under the weight of her responsibilities, dreaming of a quiet retirement. However, she discovers a hidden movement among the older women, a secret language being forged to challenge the oppressive patriarchal structure.
The author, who was a professional linguist, actually constructed the language called Láadan for the purpose of this series. She developed it as a thought experiment to test whether a language designed specifically to express the perceptions of women could function in reality, and instructional materials for it exist.
This is the first installment of a trilogy that continues with The Judas Rose and concludes with Earthsong. While the narrative arc of the secret language spans all three volumes, the author wrote the first book as a distinct experiment in linguistic relativity.