China Mieville’s novel Embassytown tells the story of a town inhabited by native aliens known as Ariekei. They have their own Language, and the plot revolves around humans interacting with the species. The novel raises questions about the link between language and identity. While the novel is set in the future, it really reflects the authors concerns about today’s society and the importance placed on language.
Near the end of Embassytown, language of humans starts to expand and take over, contaminating the aliens. The Ariekei are becoming increasingly addicted to the God-Drug. However, those who refuse to become addicted, do so by self-mutilating. They make themselves unable to hear and therefore incapable of engaging in human language.
Throughout the novel, there is a reoccurring theme concerning who is and who is not a “total person.” It seems that language is the cornerstone of being deemed “total.” Of course, while this is a futuristic novel, the author is really commenting on current society; the story simply provides a backdrop for Mieville’s concerns. In other words, he believes that contemporary society places a huge importance on language when considering identity, to the extent that those who do not speak the recognized language are not considered “total” people. They are not given the same rights or the same status as those with sophisticated language skills.
At one point in the novel, Avice comments that it is “astonishing, given what Language needs to do, that the Ariekei had survived” (Mieville 150). It appears that Avice is correct in this assertion, and this further echoes the authors feelings that people who cannot, or choose not to, engage in language, are in danger of being pushed from society altogether.
While China Mieville’s Embassytown is a futuristic novel, the author uses it to express his concern that today’s society only deems people “total” who competently speak the native language. There are undoubted links between a many people’s languages and their identities, but the idea that one person’s language could effect whether or not another person regards them as a “total” person is frightening.
Works Cited
Mieville, China. Embassytown. London: Pan Macmillan. 2011. Print.
