The Linguist: Summary

 

Professor Phil Robbins vaguely knows that he is different. His awkwardness doesn’t help with his chosen career in academia, but his professorship enables him to pursue his passion: language research. There is only one thing he loves more, and that is his daughter Emma. Phil often says that “words are all we have” to communicate, but he also realizes that certain English words are weak. When he experiences unspeakable loss, Phil cannot find words strong enough to deal with his pain. He tumbles silently, recoiling into his own world and looking to exotic languages for stronger means of expression. When an unlikely series of events lands him in a foreign country, he is challenged by new relationships. Through them he learns that words are not the limit of human expression, and the scope of human experience far exceeds what words can convey. As Phil becomes ready to open his heart again, he makes a difficult decision. He has to learn that he injures others when he acts in isolation. Compassion and forgiveness lead him to the insight that there is no word for the most precious gift that humans can wish for.