The Embedding by Ian Watson
In this science fiction novel, the story intertwines linguistic theory with alien contact, exploring the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis that language shapes thought. The narrative follows a linguist who experiments with embedding deep grammatical structures into the human brain, aiming to unlock greater cognitive potential. Concurrently, an alien race makes contact with Earth, possessing a language that reflects their unique perception of reality. As human subjects begin to exhibit extraordinary mental abilities due to the linguistic enhancements, the novel delves into the implications of communication and understanding across different species and the profound effects language has on the human mind and inter-species relationships.
The 9836th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1973
- Nationality
- British
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- Unknown
- Words
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels (David Pringle)