LogFAQs > #983059450

Hejiru posted...

I liked it, but the ending made no sense to me. Learning their language gives you time travel powers?

The way I interpreted it, it's not really time travel at all, Louis, by mastering their language, was able to perceive time just like the heptapods do (non-linearly). It seems the timeline is already set in stone and instead of experiencing it one event after the other, they experience it as it being just there all laid out.

I don't know if I'm going out of my depth here, maybe I am, but I like to think it's like if you were to master a language that makes heavy use of absolute cardinal directions (like Kuuk Thaayorre or another similar Australian Aboriginal language) instead of relative directions, you kind of end up living your life as if you had a compass with you at all times.

At least that's how I imagine it. I think language does shape the way we think to at least some degree.