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Native Tongue

Native Tongue, Book 1

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Native Tongue

By: Suzette Haden Elgin
Narrated by: Amy Landon
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About this listen

Originally published in 1984, this classic dystopian trilogy is a testament to the power of language and women's collective action.

In 2205, the 19th Amendment has long been repealed and women are only valued for their utility.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.

©2019 the Feminist Press at City University of New York (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Dystopian Hard Science Fiction Science Fiction Space Exploration
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Challenging themes. Had to relisten to some parts several times over. Not a book to relax to- active listening required!

Fascinating and challenging

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A favourite book that I'm glad to see reissued. It hasn't dated despite being written in the 80s. I initially struggled with the American narrator, but soon settled into it.

A dystopian classic

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This is perhaps the best informed linguistic sci-fi book I’ve ever encountered. Nefarious linguists, feminist resistance, exciting story: must-read/listen!

Awesome story and linguistics

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I read the Native Tongue series many years ago and was delighted to see them on Audible. However I am struggling a little with the narration. Being English I find some US accents a little difficult to listen too. Amy Landon’s voice is quite mellow and easy to listen too, BUT she puts on a slow deep voice for the male characters which I find very jarring, and unnecessary as it detracts from the story. If that is not a problem for you, then I recommend this book. If it is a problem then I recommend you read the print edition.

Great story, narration variable

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The premise was intriguing, but very little happens, and it is more an exploration of the idea, without any character to follow, root for, or even like. And even the premise is not explored with much depth. There seems a lot of hints at deeper societal intricacies and some delving, at times, but ultimately not enough for me. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the delivery, but the entire experience was irritating.
The narrator could have spoken with less plodding exaggeration, but again that may have been a stylistic choice I simply didn't resonate with. But there were also writing choices that irked me, such as no one sounding human, and everyone sounding exasperated all the time. It made me exasperated. With everyone.
I stuck with it till about 2 hours to go and just could not be bothered to finish, even though things seemed to be picking up and a story was actually starting to develop. By that point I was not invested and too frustrated to continue.

Interesting premise, but no real story

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