Native Tongue
Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin, published by Feminist Press at the City University of New York in 2019, is a thought-provoking work of fiction that explores themes of language and women’s roles in a dystopian future. Set in the year 2205, the narrative unfolds in a world where the 19th Amendment has been repealed, and women are primarily valued for their utility. The story centers on a group of linguists who manipulate women to serve as interstellar translators, leading to a complex examination of power dynamics and collective action.
Readers will find a rich exploration of resistance as the women begin to develop their own language, which serves as a means of rebellion against their oppressive circumstances. The characters Nazareth, a skilled linguist, and Michaela, a servant, navigate their paths toward emancipation while risking exposure of their secret language. This edition spans 400 pages and delves into subjects such as science fiction, space exploration, and the implications of a dystopian society, making it a significant addition to the genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
Originally published in 1984, this dystopian trilogy–“a pioneering feminist experiment”–is a testament to the power of language and women’s collective action (Literary Hub).
In 2205, the 19th Amendment has long been repealed and women are only valued for their utility. The Earth’s economy depends on an insular group of linguists who “breed” women to be perfect interstellar translators until they are sent to the Barren House to await death. But instead, these women are slowly creating a language of their own to make resistance possible. Ignorant to this brewing revolution, Nazareth, a brilliant linguist, and Michaela, a servant, both seek emancipation in their own ways. But their personal rebellions risk exposing the secret language, and threaten the possibility of freedom for all.
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