In Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow," the absence of a shared language creates a significant barrier between the indigenous people and their invaders. This lack of communication effectively shields them from being influenced or manipulated into adopting the beliefs and values imposed by the newcomers, who claim their actions are for the sake of salvation.

This dynamic highlights the power of language as a tool for control and assimilation. Without a common tongue, the invaders struggle to impose their narrative, suggesting that language is essential for shaping cultural identity and determining the course of human interactions.