Multiverse Babel 17

Our tenth reading assignment is based on the theme of the ‘Multi-Verse.’ The idea of the multi-verse, may have been older than the 20^th century, but it wasn’t after the boom of science fiction literature in the 40’s and 50’s that concepts like these were given much attention by the mainstream media or literary culture. In works that relate to the multi-verse, they create alternate worlds, that may mirror our own, or replicate other extraterrestrial worlds. In these, plots are changed so that they are similar, but different from the original existences. By the 1960’s authors of these sci-fi novels implemented aspects of serious studies into their works, such as anthropology, psychology, biology, sociology, and even real problems regarding physics and engineering. A more thoughtful and conscious approach was taken from the authors’ standpoint, straying from the clichéd high adventure works of the past.

This week we surveyed works such as Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and Babel 17 by Samuel R. Delany. Set in outer space, Babel 17 deals with the story of Rydra Wong, a starship captain, linguist, poet, and telepath. During the interstellar war the story revolves around, one side develops a language called Babel 17 which was used as a weapon. Whoever learned the language became traitors, and their perception and thoughts were altered, unbeknownst to them. As the story progressed Wong is recruited to infiltrate the enemy and see what was happening, but as she kept learning and getting deeper into Babel 17 she noticed herself becoming a betrayer of her government. She is then rescued by her crew and she is able to come to her senses. The book is strongly based on an actual scientific hypothesis of the time called the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, where in layman’s terms explains how it is a possibility that our differences in language give rise to differences in thought and behavior, because people who don’t think in the same ways can’t perceive the world in the same ways either.

I once heard that at some point in the last few centuries a tribe, somewhere North, that hadn’t had any contact with the outside world was discovered. Something particular about their language was that they didn’t have any word for ‘lying’. I bet once they came in contact with the outside they became aware of it, and unfortunately probably its misuse of it too.