The Gulliver's Use of Language and Communication

Gulliver's efforts to learn and communicate in the languages of Lilliput and Brobdingnag, and the role of language in his survival.

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Learning Lilliputian

The First Lessons The Six Scholars The emperor appoints six of his greatest scholars to teach Gulliver the Lilliputian language. Gulliver makes great progress in about three weeks. He begins to converse with the emperor. The First Words The first words he learns are to express his desire for liberty. He repeats them on his knees every day. The emperor responds that he must first swear a peace. The Importance of Language Learning the language allows Gulliver to understand the politics, law, and customs of Lilliput. It is essential for his survival and for the narrative itself. Without it, he could not have learned about the Big-endian controversy or the conspiracy.

Learning Brobdingnagian

The Farmer's Daughter as Teacher The Method Glumdalclitch teaches Gulliver the Brobdingnagian language by pointing at objects and naming them. In a few days, he can call for what he needs. She also teaches him the alphabet from a child's book. The Progress on the Journey During the ten-week journey, he continues to learn from her. He becomes able to speak the language tolerably well and understands every word. He also learns to read and write. The Use of Language Gulliver uses his language skills to converse with the king and queen, to tell his story, and to understand the culture. His ability to speak is crucial for his survival and for the satire, as he is able to describe England to the king.

The Multilingual Attempts

The Failed Communication The Many Languages When the emperor first speaks to Gulliver, Gulliver attempts to use High and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and Lingua Franca. None are understood. He must rely on signs and gestures. The Sign Language Before learning the language, Gulliver uses signs to indicate his needs. He puts his finger to his mouth to show hunger. He lifts his hands to the sun. This primitive communication is effective but limited. The Contrast Once he learns the language, he can engage in complex conversations. The contrast between the helplessness of the first encounter and the later fluency underscores the importance of language in human relations.

December 1699 to January 1700

June 1703 to October 1703

1699, at the first meeting