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An AI Book Written In 1984 And 9 Other Novels With Their Own Language

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Literature is powerful enough to create and immerse readers in new worlds, fantastic adventures, and magical experiences. Some worlds are more complex than others, and some authors go as far as inventing a new language specifically for the novel. Take A Clockwork Orange, for example.

Whether it is because they couldn’t hold their creativity in or because the language is not enough to express what the author intended, these novels were innovative and successful, and we’ve gathered ten examples of books with their own language.

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Anthony Burgess wrote a masterpiece of linguistic innovation. Through the use of Nadsat, a functional slang that blends Russian, English, and Cockney rhyming, it created a fully immersive world.

The novel portrays a dystopian society. The innovative lexicon serves the purpose of entering the reader into that world at the same time it alienates them. As the reader decodes the slang, it enters Alex’s violent escapades in complicity. In the case of this novel, the choice was not just stylistic; it was a device to explore the topics in depth.

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This novel, written by the Irish author James Joyce, is, like most of his works, a bit challenging. Considering it is from 1939, it is full of neologisms, lexical blends, and Irish mannerisms, which ultimately create a hybrid language that is border nonsense. It has an experimental style, and it is considered one of the most difficult pieces of literature.

If you are up for a reading challenge, you might find that this novel -which follows the lives of the Earwicker family in a cyclical and nonlinear way- is a good fit.

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This novel by Paul Kingsnorth has an interesting detail behind the reasons for creating a "new" language. Written in 2015 but set in the year 1066, the author states that his intention in creating a new language is to fully represent the time.

In this case, the innovation comes through an invented version of Old English, which combines archaic vocabulary and syntax to create more vivid images and a more historical atmosphere for post-Conquest England. This is no light reading, as the language forces the reader to slow down and engage. Would you be interested in that?

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Post-apocalyptic novels are a common thing today, but in 1980, when Russel Hoban published Riddley Walker, this was quite a surprise.

The novel is set two thousand years after a nuclear explosion that destroyed the world, and the life described is similar to what we can imagine it was hundreds of years ago.

The creation of a language was necessary to fully understand how shattered this new world is, and the means to do so is through a more phonetically spelled and fragmented English: "Nothing like it never happent befor but it wer like it all ways ben there happening." Isn’t literature marvelous?

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J.K. Rowling is responsible for creating one of the most popular book series in the world. The details in the creation of the magical world are astonishing and the reason why the Harry Potter world became so immensely famous, even decades after the first book was released.

If a whole new world is created, she couldn’t miss the opportunity to create a new language: Parseltongue. In this series, the language belongs to the snakes and only a few can speak it.

In this case, the language is spelled like hissing sounds, and there seems to be no logic behind it.

Image: Liam Andrew

Following Hoban’s steps, Sandra Newman published a post-apocalyptic novel with its own language in 2014.

What is curious about it is the world it presents: It is inhabited only by children and teenagers because a plague killed all the adults. And this is enough to understand why an invented way of communication was necessary. Haven’t we all got lost in the words of a teenager? They speak their own language in real life, too!

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Published in 1993 by the Scottish author Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting was a successful book later adapted into an equally successful movie.

In any case, this book combines the Scots dialect of his childhood with the darkest English vocabulary to imbue the plot and the characters with a humanity that makes them both sad, likable, and relatable at the same time.

With a tough plot with challenging language but an oh-so-ever engaging topic, this novel is a must-read!

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On a more cheerful note, this novel by Harry Mathews, published in 1972, compiles a series of letters between a husband and a wife who are after a treasure which has lost off the coast of Florida five centuries ago.

The wife, coming from the fictional country of Pan-Nam, speaks the language called Pan: "Pan persns knwo base bal. The giappan-like trade-for mishn play with it in our capatal any times."

Critics consider this comedy brilliant, witty, and engaging as it deals with the universally classic topic of marriage and its intricate corners.

Image: Possessed Photography

If you think Artificial intelligence is something of today, you’ll have to think again. Back in 1984, William Chamberlain and Thomas Etter instructed a computer program, Racter, to create some texts. These became a book, a collection of poetry and prose, and it is considered the first book written by AI.

The uniqueness of the language comes from that aspect; it is an artificially constructed conversation that follows its own semantic principles but which, in turn, can be read as any other book. Isn’t that interesting?

Image: Gabriella Clare Marino

Let’s finish this article with what is probably one of the weirdest books in the world. The title already is quite empty of meaning if you don’t know about the book, isn’t it?

Codex is a book by the Italian artist Luigi Serafini in 1981. More than a book, it is a creative masterpiece. It is an encyclopedia with illustrations of fictional fauna, flora, and a whole world described in an imaginary language.

The language created by the artist is so innovative (and imaginative) that it doesn’t really make any sense. The book is not for readers to make sense of it but to enjoy the visuals and the creativity behind it.

Why you shouldn't walk under a ladder — and other superstitions explained

Image: Raquel Pedrotti

Superstitions have shaped human behavior for centuries, often rooted in ancient beliefs, religious practices, or sheer coincidence. From knocking on wood to avoiding black cats, even today, these curious traditions persist across cultures. But where did they come from? Here are 12 common superstitions and the fascinating origins behind them.

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This practice dates back to ancient pagan traditions, where trees were believed to house spirits. Knocking was a way to summon their protection or avoid tempting fate.

Over time, the superstition spread across cultures, and early Christians adapted it as a reference to the wood of the cross for divine protection. Today, people still "knock on wood" after making a hopeful statement to ward off bad luck.

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Ancient Romans believed mirrors reflected the soul. Breaking one was thought to damage the soul, which would take seven years to renew.

This idea was reinforced in the Middle Ages, when mirrors became expensive. Breaking one was not only a spiritual concern but also a financial burden, and the superstition likely served as a warning to handle them with care.

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The fear of the number 13 stems from Norse and Christian traditions, with an unlucky 13th guest believed to bring misfortune. Friday was also linked to Jesus’ crucifixion.

The superstition intensified in the 20th century through pop culture references, leading to widespread fear. Many buildings and airlines even avoid labeling a 13th floor or row.

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Ancient Egyptians saw ladders as sacred symbols, forming a triangle with the ground. Walking through one was believed to anger the gods.

During the Middle Ages, ladders were associated with gallows, creating a connection with death. The belief persists today, reinforced by the obvious danger of a ladder toppling.

Image: Tatiana Zanon

In medieval Europe, black cats were linked to witches, believed to be their familiars—or even witches in disguise—and crossing paths with one was thought to bring misfortune.

However, this wasn’t true everywhere. In ancient Egypt, black cats were especially revered, and today they are considered lucky in some cultures, particularly in Japan and Scotland.

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In Victorian England, umbrellas with spring mechanisms could accidentally injure people indoors, making this superstition more about a real hazard than a "bad omen."

A deeper origin may stem from ancient Egypt, where parasols were used to shield pharaohs from the sun. Opening one indoors was thought to offend the sun god Ra.

Image: Emmy Smith

Salt was a valuable commodity in ancient times, sometimes even used as currency. Spilling it was considered wasteful and unlucky.

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper depicts Judas spilling salt, reinforcing its association with betrayal and misfortune. As a countermeasure, tossing salt over the left shoulder was thought to blind evil spirits.

Image: Virgil Cayasa

The Romans believed water had sacred properties, and tossing a coin into a fountain was an offering to the gods for good fortune.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome helped popularize the tradition. Today, millions of coins are thrown into fountains worldwide, with many places donating the collected money to charity.

Image: Matt Benson

The horseshoe’s luck stems from iron’s historical association with warding off evil spirits and fairies. The shape also resembles a crescent moon, a symbol of protection.

In part, the association with the supernatural stemmed from the fact that blacksmiths were highly respected in medieval Europe, and their complex craft was seen by many as nearly magical.

Image: Dayne Topkin

This tradition likely originated with early Christians, who used finger gestures to invoke divine protection and ward off evil.

Over time, the practice became a general symbol of good luck, with people crossing their fingers for positive outcomes—or even to excuse small lies.

Image: Luis Villasmil

This rhyme originated in the 19th century as a playful warning to children, with no real historical basis.

However, cracks in sidewalks were sometimes linked to supernatural beliefs, with some cultures fearing they could allow evil spirits to escape from the underworld.

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According to one theory, Pope Gregory I promoted saying "God bless you" during the bubonic plague to protect against disease, and the phrase stuck.

Another possible origin comes from ancient Rome, where sneezing was thought to temporarily expel the soul, making a blessing necessary for protection.