Suzette Haden Elgin
Suzette Haden Elgin (born Patricia Anne Suzette Wilkins; November 18, 1936 – January 27, 2015) was an American researcher in experimental linguistics, construction and evolution of languages and poetry and science fiction writer. She founded the Science Fiction Poetry Association and is considered an important figure in the field of science-fiction constructed languages. Her best-known non-fiction includes her Verbal Self-Defense series.
Also recorded as SHE · Shuzheth · Patricia Anne Suzette Wilkins
Suzette Haden Elgin

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- Birth Name
- Patricia Anne Suzette Wilkins
- Born
- 18 November 1936
- Birthplace
- Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.
- Died
- 27 January 2015
- Name
- Suzette Haden Elgin
- Spouse
- Peter Haden (married 1955; he predeceased her) George Elgin (married 1964)
- Education
- * University of California, San Diego
- Movement
- Feminist science fiction
- Occupation
- * conlanger
- Full name
- Patricia Anne Wilkins.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Fields
- conlanging.
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Documentary summary
Suzette Haden Elgin (born Patricia Anne Suzette Wilkins; November 18, 1936 – January 27, 2015) was an American researcher in experimental linguistics, construction and evolution of languages and poetry and science fiction writer. She founded the Science Fiction Poetry Association and is considered an important figure in the field of science-fiction constructed languages. Her best-known non-fiction includes her Verbal Self-Defense series.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2741191 · wikipedia · Suzette Haden Elgin
In this article
Biography
Biography
Suzette Haden Elgin studied at California State University, Chico, University of California, San Diego and University of Chicago. The recorded working language is American English. The field of work recorded is conlanging. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are feminist science fiction. Employment is recorded with San Diego State University and Portland State University. Works named in the authority record are Native Tongue Trilogy, Native Tongue, The Judas Rose, Earthsong, A First Dictionary & Grammar of Láadan and A Second Dictionary & Grammar of Láadan. Distinctions recorded are Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets.
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Patricia Anne Suzette Wilkins • Born — 18 November 1936 • Birthplace — Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. • Children — 4 • Died — 27 January 2015 • Name — Suzette Haden Elgin • Spouse — Peter Haden (married 1955; he predeceased her) George Elgin (married 1964) • Education — * University of California, San Diego • California State University, Chico • University of Chicago • Genres — * Fantasy • science fiction • social science fiction • speculative poetry • Movement — Feminist science fiction • Occupation — * conlanger • linguist • poet • teacher • writer • Period — Contemporary • Relatives — Josepha Haden (granddaughter) • Subject — Sociology of language • Website — https: sfwa.org/members/elgin • Years Active — 1960s–2010s
Early life
Early life
Patricia Anne Suzette Wilkins was born in 1936 in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Later years and death
Later years and death
Elgin became a professor at San Diego State University (SDSU). She retired in 1980 and lived in Arkansas with her second husband, George Elgin. She died at age 78 in 2015 from undisclosed causes. She was survived by her husband until his own death in 2020. Her son Michael pre-deceased her.
Filmography
Filmography
Elgin wrote the screenplay for Tales from the Darkside season 3, episode 10 "Deliver Us From Goodness".
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1936
Suzette Haden Elgin born at Louisiana.
2015
Suzette Haden Elgin died at Arkansas.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Louisiana.
Birth place
Arkansas.
Death place
Linguistics, teaching and writing
She attended the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in the 1960s, and began writing science fiction in order to pay tuition. She gained a PhD in linguistics, and was the first UCSD student ever to write two dissertations (on English and Navajo). She created the engineered language Láadan for her Native Tongue science fiction series. A grammar and dictionary was published in 1985. She supported feminist science fiction, saying "women need to realize that SF is the only genre of literature in which it's possible for a writer to explore the question of what this world would be like if you could get rid of [Y], where [Y] is filled in with any of the multitude of real world facts that constrain and oppress women. Women need to treasure and support science fiction." In addition, she published works of shorter fiction. Overlying themes in her work include feminism, linguistics and the impact of proper language, and peaceful coexistence with nature. Many of her works also draw from her Ozark background and heritage.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Web oficial de Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association fundada el 1978 i encara vigent.
- 2.Cita libro https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mohr,+Dunja+M.+Worlds+Apart%3F+Dualism+and+Transgression+in...-a0218817891 0-7864-2142-8
- 3.Cita noticia Amy Chozick https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/arts/television/in-game-of-thrones-a-language-to-make-the-world-feel-real.html Athhilezar? Watch Your Fantasy World Language The New York Times 11 desembre 2011
- 4.John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nicholls i Graham Sleight. anglès.
- 5.ref-web http://www.womenwriters.net/editorials/hadenelgin.htm An Interview with Suzette Haden Elgin 31/12/1018 (arxiu 1999) Kim Wells anglès Women Writers fecha= 1999 13 de mayo de 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160513034726/http://www.womenwriters.net/editorials/hadenelgin.htm yes
- 6.Cita publicación http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/columns/the-feminist-legacy-in-science-fiction-poetry/ On resistance: the feminist legacy in science fiction. Rhee Margaret 23 abril 2018 Strange Horizons
- 7.Elgin blog, ozarque.livejournal.com; accessed April 26, 2015.
- 8.Elgin biography, sfwa.org; accessed April 26, 2015.
- 9.notice of death opg Suzette Haden Elgin , SFSite News; accessed April 26, 2015.
- 10.Locus Online obituary, locusmag.com; accessed April 26, 2015.
- 11.http://ozarque.livejournal.com/631306.html, 7th draft of her poem about Michael's death.
- 12.anglès.
- 13.Fixa de l'autora a la ISDF
- 14.Cita libro editorial=Ultramar 847386543X
- 15.Cita libro editorial=Ultramar 8473865642
- 16.Va ser traduït al castellà i publicat amb el títol de Por el amor de Grace al volum Ciencia ficción selección 19(1969). També al volum Antología de novelas de anticipación - XVII selecció - (1969).
- 17.Va ser traduït al castellà i publicat amb el títol de Las mecedoras al volum Ciencia ficción selección 38 (1979).
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2741191: Suzette Haden ElginWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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