TONGUE INTERNATIONAL is a satirical fantasy about anew language invented by a small company, which people are charged forthe privilege of speaking and writing. Through skilful marketing, thelanguage becomes a dominant idiom of international communication, eventhough it has several basic design weaknesses - as the vocabularygrows, users have to hold certain objects in their hand to indicateshifting levels of emphasis. The company corners the market inmanufacturing these objects, as well as clip-on pouches to hold themwhich people are obliged to wear at all times. More and more peoplediscover that it is easier to work things out in their sleep (wherenatural language reverts) and economies are crippled as captains ofindustry try to get as much sleep as possible. Charting the dealsnegotiated by the company to secure a schools monopoly and the speech-fights launched by rebel campaigners who sabotage broadcasts andheckle politicians with English, TONGUE INTERNATIONAL is a brilliantlybiting satire on cultural dominance and a hilarious look at the useand abuse of language in all aspects of public life from one of themost talented comic writers of our time.