What could cause an entire planet of humans to become aphasic?
$begingroup$
I'm working on a story in which there is some sort of planetary erosion of language. Humans lose the ability to communicate verbally (orally and written). They can remember having language, can even remember names for things and people, but they have no way of expressing them outside of themselves. They can still hear and make sounds/talk, but to anyone but themselves it is gibberish - even those who once spoke the same language.
I've been trying to think of a global event that could essentially rewire human brains this way. Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet? (e.g. dark energy is described as fluidlike; maybe it has some kind of effect on the brain?)
One person can actually remember how language worked, and learns to harness the new particle to bring about a new, telepathic way of communicating that skirts the neurological rewiring. [I'm only adding this 'exception' human because I'm not sure how to write a story with characters who can't speak.]
Thank you!
reality-check science-fiction post-apocalypse gravity telepathy
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
I'm working on a story in which there is some sort of planetary erosion of language. Humans lose the ability to communicate verbally (orally and written). They can remember having language, can even remember names for things and people, but they have no way of expressing them outside of themselves. They can still hear and make sounds/talk, but to anyone but themselves it is gibberish - even those who once spoke the same language.
I've been trying to think of a global event that could essentially rewire human brains this way. Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet? (e.g. dark energy is described as fluidlike; maybe it has some kind of effect on the brain?)
One person can actually remember how language worked, and learns to harness the new particle to bring about a new, telepathic way of communicating that skirts the neurological rewiring. [I'm only adding this 'exception' human because I'm not sure how to write a story with characters who can't speak.]
Thank you!
reality-check science-fiction post-apocalypse gravity telepathy
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Welcome to worldbuilding. Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a similar sickness staged in Macondo. Wouldn't the similar approach work for you?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
8
$begingroup$
They tried building a really tall tower and got too close to god.
$endgroup$
– Separatrix
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch, thank you! I will check that out.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
And @Separatrix, hahahaha, nailed my inspiration, but in my tale they can't band together based on new shared language groups, because there is no shared language anymore.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch [I really need to read that book]. However, I don't think semantic dementia is precisely what I am thinking of. People remember what things are and how to use them; they just can't communicate.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
I'm working on a story in which there is some sort of planetary erosion of language. Humans lose the ability to communicate verbally (orally and written). They can remember having language, can even remember names for things and people, but they have no way of expressing them outside of themselves. They can still hear and make sounds/talk, but to anyone but themselves it is gibberish - even those who once spoke the same language.
I've been trying to think of a global event that could essentially rewire human brains this way. Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet? (e.g. dark energy is described as fluidlike; maybe it has some kind of effect on the brain?)
One person can actually remember how language worked, and learns to harness the new particle to bring about a new, telepathic way of communicating that skirts the neurological rewiring. [I'm only adding this 'exception' human because I'm not sure how to write a story with characters who can't speak.]
Thank you!
reality-check science-fiction post-apocalypse gravity telepathy
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I'm working on a story in which there is some sort of planetary erosion of language. Humans lose the ability to communicate verbally (orally and written). They can remember having language, can even remember names for things and people, but they have no way of expressing them outside of themselves. They can still hear and make sounds/talk, but to anyone but themselves it is gibberish - even those who once spoke the same language.
I've been trying to think of a global event that could essentially rewire human brains this way. Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet? (e.g. dark energy is described as fluidlike; maybe it has some kind of effect on the brain?)
One person can actually remember how language worked, and learns to harness the new particle to bring about a new, telepathic way of communicating that skirts the neurological rewiring. [I'm only adding this 'exception' human because I'm not sure how to write a story with characters who can't speak.]
Thank you!
reality-check science-fiction post-apocalypse gravity telepathy
reality-check science-fiction post-apocalypse gravity telepathy
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
asked 5 hours ago
Sarah FitzsimmonsSarah Fitzsimmons
111
111
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$begingroup$
Welcome to worldbuilding. Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a similar sickness staged in Macondo. Wouldn't the similar approach work for you?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
8
$begingroup$
They tried building a really tall tower and got too close to god.
$endgroup$
– Separatrix
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch, thank you! I will check that out.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
And @Separatrix, hahahaha, nailed my inspiration, but in my tale they can't band together based on new shared language groups, because there is no shared language anymore.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch [I really need to read that book]. However, I don't think semantic dementia is precisely what I am thinking of. People remember what things are and how to use them; they just can't communicate.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
$begingroup$
Welcome to worldbuilding. Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a similar sickness staged in Macondo. Wouldn't the similar approach work for you?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
8
$begingroup$
They tried building a really tall tower and got too close to god.
$endgroup$
– Separatrix
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch, thank you! I will check that out.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
And @Separatrix, hahahaha, nailed my inspiration, but in my tale they can't band together based on new shared language groups, because there is no shared language anymore.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch [I really need to read that book]. However, I don't think semantic dementia is precisely what I am thinking of. People remember what things are and how to use them; they just can't communicate.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Welcome to worldbuilding. Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a similar sickness staged in Macondo. Wouldn't the similar approach work for you?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Welcome to worldbuilding. Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a similar sickness staged in Macondo. Wouldn't the similar approach work for you?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
8
8
$begingroup$
They tried building a really tall tower and got too close to god.
$endgroup$
– Separatrix
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
They tried building a really tall tower and got too close to god.
$endgroup$
– Separatrix
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch, thank you! I will check that out.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch, thank you! I will check that out.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
And @Separatrix, hahahaha, nailed my inspiration, but in my tale they can't band together based on new shared language groups, because there is no shared language anymore.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
And @Separatrix, hahahaha, nailed my inspiration, but in my tale they can't band together based on new shared language groups, because there is no shared language anymore.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch [I really need to read that book]. However, I don't think semantic dementia is precisely what I am thinking of. People remember what things are and how to use them; they just can't communicate.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch [I really need to read that book]. However, I don't think semantic dementia is precisely what I am thinking of. People remember what things are and how to use them; they just can't communicate.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
"Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet?"
I'd go way more realistic: make it a virus, (maybe developed by some weird apocaliptic cult), and there you go.
Wikipedia states that
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions
Which is perfectly achievable for a fungus or virus.
Making it "handmade" would explain how it could spread so far/quick.
The few/one normal people could have a natural immunity or could be one of "the chosen few" from the original cult, that had some sort of cure genetically implanted.
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
$endgroup$
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "579"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
var $window = $(window),
onScroll = function(e) {
var $elem = $('.new-login-left'),
docViewTop = $window.scrollTop(),
docViewBottom = docViewTop + $window.height(),
elemTop = $elem.offset().top,
elemBottom = elemTop + $elem.height();
if ((docViewTop elemBottom)) {
StackExchange.using('gps', function() { StackExchange.gps.track('embedded_signup_form.view', { location: 'question_page' }); });
$window.unbind('scroll', onScroll);
}
};
$window.on('scroll', onScroll);
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f139765%2fwhat-could-cause-an-entire-planet-of-humans-to-become-aphasic%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
"Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet?"
I'd go way more realistic: make it a virus, (maybe developed by some weird apocaliptic cult), and there you go.
Wikipedia states that
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions
Which is perfectly achievable for a fungus or virus.
Making it "handmade" would explain how it could spread so far/quick.
The few/one normal people could have a natural immunity or could be one of "the chosen few" from the original cult, that had some sort of cure genetically implanted.
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
"Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet?"
I'd go way more realistic: make it a virus, (maybe developed by some weird apocaliptic cult), and there you go.
Wikipedia states that
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions
Which is perfectly achievable for a fungus or virus.
Making it "handmade" would explain how it could spread so far/quick.
The few/one normal people could have a natural immunity or could be one of "the chosen few" from the original cult, that had some sort of cure genetically implanted.
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
"Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet?"
I'd go way more realistic: make it a virus, (maybe developed by some weird apocaliptic cult), and there you go.
Wikipedia states that
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions
Which is perfectly achievable for a fungus or virus.
Making it "handmade" would explain how it could spread so far/quick.
The few/one normal people could have a natural immunity or could be one of "the chosen few" from the original cult, that had some sort of cure genetically implanted.
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
$endgroup$
"Some kind of exotic particle? Or perhaps a form of gravity that we haven't encountered yet?"
I'd go way more realistic: make it a virus, (maybe developed by some weird apocaliptic cult), and there you go.
Wikipedia states that
Aphasia is an inability to comprehend or formulate language because of damage to specific brain regions
Which is perfectly achievable for a fungus or virus.
Making it "handmade" would explain how it could spread so far/quick.
The few/one normal people could have a natural immunity or could be one of "the chosen few" from the original cult, that had some sort of cure genetically implanted.
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
edited 47 mins ago
Gryphon
3,87722962
3,87722962
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
answered 3 hours ago
HobbamokHobbamok
1,201210
1,201210
add a comment |
add a comment |
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sarah Fitzsimmons is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Worldbuilding Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
var $window = $(window),
onScroll = function(e) {
var $elem = $('.new-login-left'),
docViewTop = $window.scrollTop(),
docViewBottom = docViewTop + $window.height(),
elemTop = $elem.offset().top,
elemBottom = elemTop + $elem.height();
if ((docViewTop elemBottom)) {
StackExchange.using('gps', function() { StackExchange.gps.track('embedded_signup_form.view', { location: 'question_page' }); });
$window.unbind('scroll', onScroll);
}
};
$window.on('scroll', onScroll);
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fworldbuilding.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f139765%2fwhat-could-cause-an-entire-planet-of-humans-to-become-aphasic%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
var $window = $(window),
onScroll = function(e) {
var $elem = $('.new-login-left'),
docViewTop = $window.scrollTop(),
docViewBottom = docViewTop + $window.height(),
elemTop = $elem.offset().top,
elemBottom = elemTop + $elem.height();
if ((docViewTop elemBottom)) {
StackExchange.using('gps', function() { StackExchange.gps.track('embedded_signup_form.view', { location: 'question_page' }); });
$window.unbind('scroll', onScroll);
}
};
$window.on('scroll', onScroll);
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
var $window = $(window),
onScroll = function(e) {
var $elem = $('.new-login-left'),
docViewTop = $window.scrollTop(),
docViewBottom = docViewTop + $window.height(),
elemTop = $elem.offset().top,
elemBottom = elemTop + $elem.height();
if ((docViewTop elemBottom)) {
StackExchange.using('gps', function() { StackExchange.gps.track('embedded_signup_form.view', { location: 'question_page' }); });
$window.unbind('scroll', onScroll);
}
};
$window.on('scroll', onScroll);
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
var $window = $(window),
onScroll = function(e) {
var $elem = $('.new-login-left'),
docViewTop = $window.scrollTop(),
docViewBottom = docViewTop + $window.height(),
elemTop = $elem.offset().top,
elemBottom = elemTop + $elem.height();
if ((docViewTop elemBottom)) {
StackExchange.using('gps', function() { StackExchange.gps.track('embedded_signup_form.view', { location: 'question_page' }); });
$window.unbind('scroll', onScroll);
}
};
$window.on('scroll', onScroll);
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
$begingroup$
Welcome to worldbuilding. Gabriel Garcia Marquez had a similar sickness staged in Macondo. Wouldn't the similar approach work for you?
$endgroup$
– L.Dutch♦
5 hours ago
8
$begingroup$
They tried building a really tall tower and got too close to god.
$endgroup$
– Separatrix
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch, thank you! I will check that out.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
And @Separatrix, hahahaha, nailed my inspiration, but in my tale they can't band together based on new shared language groups, because there is no shared language anymore.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@L.Dutch [I really need to read that book]. However, I don't think semantic dementia is precisely what I am thinking of. People remember what things are and how to use them; they just can't communicate.
$endgroup$
– Sarah Fitzsimmons
5 hours ago