From: churchh@ut-emx.uucp (Henry Churchyard)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written,sci.lang
Subject: Re: Science Fiction books with linguistic content
Summary: posting from LINGUIST list
Date: 27 Sep 92 16:49:10 GMT
Followup-To: sci.lang
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

In article <1992Sep23.224610.29356@unixg.ubc.ca>, turkel@unixg.ubc.ca (Bill Turkel) writes:
> 
> Here is the Linguistic SF list so far... 

Here is some parallel info from the LINGUIST list...


} --------------------------------------------------------------------------
}    #55          6-JUN-1992 10:59:40.90
} 4)
} Date:   Wed, 3 Jun 1992 00:19:04 -0400
} From: zgilbert@epas.utoronto.ca (Zvi Gilbert)
} Subject: Science Fiction and Linguistics
} 
} I have done some reading and research with regards to science fiction
} and linguistics... I gave an informal talk on it once.  Besides the
} connections that have been discussed on the list in terms of them both
} being fields "between" in some sense the sciences and the humanities,
} there is another place of overlap, as Kaufmann mentioned, where
} speculative fiction (SF) meets linguistics.
} 
} There are some very interesting works of SF out
} there that use linguistic themes, or have linguistic elements in their
} world creation.  Delany's _Babel-17_, as Kaufmann mentioned, is an
} example of the former, while Frank Herbert's _Dune_ is an example of
} the latter, with carefully worked out historical derivations of Arabic
} religious language set thousands of years in the future. 
} 
} Two books for anyone interested in the linguistics in SF:
} 
} Delany, Samuel R. The Jewel-Hinged Jaw: Notes on the Language of
} Science Fiction.
} 
} --Contains some essays that talk about the way sentences work in SF as
} distinct from other kinds of writing.  The backbone structure of the
} language of SF... an impressive early critical achievment.  (Professor
} Delany teaches at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, as well as
} writing SF and fantasy.)
} 
} Meyers, Walter E. Aliens and Linguists: Language Study and Science
} Fiction. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1980
} 
} --A scholarly work analyzing the linguistics in SF... how plausable it
} is, frequent errors that SF authors make when talking about linguistics,
} and examples of good linguistics.
} 
} --Zvi Gilbert
}                 zgilbert@epas.utoronto.ca
}                         @epas.toronto.edu
} 
} 
} Linguist List:  Vol-3-470.
} --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} 
} From:   IN%"zgilbert@epas.utoronto.ca" 10-JUN-1992 14:39:06.12
} Subj:   SF/LIN LIST
} 
} Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1992 12:06:06 -0400
} From: zgilbert@epas.utoronto.ca (Zvi Gilbert)
} Subject: SF/LIN LIST
} Message-id: <9206101606.AA17097@epas.utoronto.ca>
} 
} List by Zvi Gilbert.  92/06/05
} 
} SF and LINGUISTICS
} Suggestions for Reading
} 
} Disclaimer: I have not included every sf novel or story that has
} linguistic themes in it, but only a selection of those I thought were
} particulary good.  Comments and suggestions welcome.
} 
} Well Thought-out Novels on Linguistic Themes:
} 
} --Delany, Samuel R.  Babel-17.
} (Comparative linguistics, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (strong form), semantics.)
} 
} --Elgin, Suzette. H. Native Tongue.
} (Language acquisition, semantics.)
} 
} --Vance, Jack.  The Languages of Pao.
} (Comparative linguistics, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (weak form), semantics.)
} 
} --Watson, Ian. The Embedding.
} (Universal Grammar, generative syntax.)
} 
} Further Reading
} 
} A selection of novels that use linguistic science in a well-thought
} out way:
} 
} --Brin, David. Sundiver.(language change, animal language-- dolphins)
} --Burgess, Anthony. A Clockwork Orange. (language change, dialect differences)
} --Clarke, Arthur C. Rendezvous with Rama. (animal language-- apes)
} --Delany, Samuel R. Stars in my Pocket like Grains of Sand.(language
} change, alien languages)
} --Heinlein, Robert A. Red Planet.(alien language -- phonetics/semantics)
} --Heinlein, Robert A. Stranger in a Strange Land (alien language --
} phonetics, semantics, shading into mysticism)
} --Heinlein, Robert A. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.(future dialects of English)
} --Herbert, Frank. Dune.(language change)
} --Hoban, Russell. Ridley Walker. (language change)
} --Le Guin, Ursula. Always Coming Home.(invented language -- semantics,
} grammar, etc.)
} --Le Guin, Ursula. The Left Hand of Darkness.(invented language -- semantics)
} --Orwell, George. 1984 (invented language -- semantics,
} sociolinguistics, language and thought)
} --Tolkein, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings.(invented languages--
} historical change, writing systems)
} --Womack, Jack. Terraplane.(language change, dialect differences)
} --Zelazny, Roger. Eye of Cat. (alien language)
} 
} The ideal linguistics/science fiction short story collection:
} 
} --Carr, Terry. "The Dance of the Changer and the Three".in The Best of
} Terry Carr. (semantics)
} --Haldeman, Joe. "A !Tangled Web," in .Dealing in Futures (humorous
} alien language)
} --Haldeman, Joe. "Anniversary Project," in Infinite Dreams. (the
} evolution of human language)
} --Heinlein, Robert A. "Gulf," in 6 X H.(superior language; the limits
} of language)
} --Murphy, Pat. "Rachel in Love," in Points of Departure.(animal
} language -- chimps)
} --Robinson, Kim Stanley. "The Translator," in Universe 1. edited by
} Robert Silverberg and Karen  Haber.(a fresh look at the automatic translator)
} --Sallis, James. "The Attitude of the Earth Towards Other Bodies," in
} Full Spectrum 2. edited by  Lou Aronica, et. al.(Universal Grammar and
} love [really!])
} --Williams, Walter Jon. "Surfacing," in Facets.(alien grammar/semantics)
} 
} Other books of interest:
} 
} --Barnes, Myra Edwards. Linguistics and Languages in Science
} Fiction-Fantasy.  New York: Arno  Press, 1975
} --Delany, Samuel R. Starboard Wine: More Notes on the Language of
} Science Fiction.
} --Delany, Samuel R. The Jewel-Hinged Jaw: Notes on the Language of
} Science Fiction.
} --Meyers, Walter E. Aliens and Linguists: Language Study and Science
} Fiction. Athens, GA:  University of Georgia Press, 1980
} --Okrand, Mark. The Klingon Dictionary.
} 
} This list is not finished!  If you have any suggestions for additions
} to the list, please mail them to  me at zgilbert@epas.utoronto.ca
}                                                  epas.toronto.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written