neural changes, based on the idea that memory is stored in a specific place in the brain and can be transplanted: Tak Hallus, "The Linguist," has an operation called an engramectomy: "The central figure of the story, Eberly, is an engram donor, a quick learner of foreign languages, who has seven times learned Spanish, only to have his engrams removed for sale. The operation costs $5,000, which explains why 'Liberal Arts seldom become economically interesting enough to transplant, except foreign languages, Eberly's specialty' (p. 91)" (111)
But for some, that would still not work, as the brain is compelled to be connected.
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Beverly Friend lists five solutions to the problem of foreign languages in sf: the first is telepathy or MT; the other four are variations on the theme of the foreigners all speaking English, a postcolonial attitude that some spell out clearly, like Stephen Tall's explorer in The Ramsgate Paradox (1976): "With primitives I try to teach them our language rather than learn theirs, mainly because I can take the initiative. My objective is communication, not language study. We leave that to the etymologists. Further, good old English is much more versatile than any speech they are likely to have" (Meyers 105).
two solutions: make the traveler a fast language-learner, and make the foreign language simple
the trendy language-learning methods reflected in sf over a 25-year period: hypnosis, neural changes, sleep-learning, electric shock, chemical means, DNA/RNA
HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA.... too bad, too bad....
Most will have to learn Spanish..., so hard it will be....
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vaccination against monolingualism: Poul Anderson gives a character in "Eutopia" (1967) an "electrochemical inculcation" of specific foreign languages for a trip (112-13); Alan Burt Akers, Transit to Scorpio (1972), "When the pill has dissolved and its genetic constituents habilitate themselves in your brain, you will have a complete understanding, both written and oral, of the chief language of Kregen" (113)
He, he, he,..... "vaccination against monolingualism".... they better hurry up, I would look at their IPO.
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