"Each language is a special tool, with a particular capability. It is more than a means of communication, it is a system of thought… Think of a language as the contour of a watershed, stopping flow in certain directions, channeling it into others. Language controls the mechanism of your mind. When people speak different languages, their minds work differently and they act differently… The question arises: does the language provoke or merely reflect… Which came first: the language or the conduct?"
Jack Vance, The Languages of Pao, 1958
The Frustrated CFO's comment: Maybe not the most mind-blowing science-fiction opus of mid-20s century, this short novel by the 14th Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America is, nevertheless, full of fascinating concepts. Those who ever wondered about the unmistakable passion of Italian, so perfect for melodramatic singing and kitchen fighting; or thought that French sounds too snooty even when spoken by hard-core street thugs, yet so sexy when whispered in one's ear; or heard dogs barking and whips lashing around people speaking German – will find the idea of controlling people through languages especially engaging.
The Frustrated CFO 