The Language With No Word For Leaving

The Language With No Word For Leaving Imagine finding a dry, legible card tied to a branch in a flooded river, written in an unknown language, when it should have been submerged for hours. This mysterious discovery leads investigators to a group called the Ardent Circle and a language designed to control thought. What happens when a language has no word for "leaving"? In this episode, we delve into the story of Megan Mills, a dependable young woman drawn into a seemingly innocuous language study group that evolves into a secluded community. We explore the methods used by its leader, Charles Holmes, to reshape the lives and minds of his followers through a constructed language and subtle control. Person: Melissa Edwards Date: October 14, 2017 Location: Calverton River Group: Ardent Circle - Melissa Edwards found a dry, laminated card on a water oak branch in the Calverton River. - The river was running six feet above normal, and the card should have been underwater. - The card contained forty-something words in an alphabet not found in Pell County's reference books. - Megan Mills joined Charles Holmes's study group in April 2015, which later became the Ardent Circle. - The constructed language, Ardeni, had no words for "leaving," "before," or "doubt." To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].