Native Tongue

By Suzette Haden Elgin

A visionary feminist classic that redefines the power of language and resistance. First published in 1984 and hailed as “fascinating” by The New York Times, Native Tongue is the first book in Suzette Haden Elgin’s groundbreaking dystopian trilogy. Set in a chilling future where women have lost all civil rights, this novel explores how language can become both a tool of oppression—and a weapon of liberation.

Book Synopsis

In the 22nd century, Earth’s economy depends on interplanetary trade, and linguists—insular families trained to communicate with alien races—hold immense power. But their women are little more than property, valued only for their ability to bear children who will become elite translators. Nazareth Chornyak, the most gifted linguist of her generation, is weary of her endless duties and dreams of retreating to the Barren House, where aging women are sent to fade away. Instead, she discovers a quiet revolution: in secret, women are creating a new language—Láadan—designed to express their truths and reclaim their agency. Word by word, they are rewriting their future.

Perfect For

• Readers of feminist science fiction and dystopian literature
• Fans of Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Octavia Butler
• Students of linguistics, gender studies, and speculative fiction
• Anyone intrigued by the intersection of language, power, and identity

Praise & Recognition

“Native Tongue brings to life not only the possibility of a women’s language, but a rationale for one.”
—Village Voice

“Elgin takes up more than linguistics, of course—everything from religion to sex… the story is absolutely compelling.”
—Women’s Review of Books

“A pioneering feminist experiment… as gripping, troubling, and meaningful today as it has ever been.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

About the Author

Suzette Haden Elgin (1936–2015) was a linguist, poet, and science fiction author best known for her Native Tongue trilogy and her nonfiction series The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense. She founded the Science Fiction Poetry Association and created the constructed language Láadan to explore how language shapes perception and power.

Other Related Titles

• The Judas Rose by Suzette Haden Elgin
• Earthsong by Suzette Haden Elgin
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Product Details

• Publisher: The Feminist Press at CUNY
• Publication Date: July 23, 2019 (Reissue)
• Format: Paperback / eBook
• ISBN: 9781936932627
• Pages: 400