“The 400s are devoted to language and linguistics, and this section is described by Adrian as “the least useful section of the library” because “nothing truly important can be learned with words”. Thus far I have avoided discovering exactly what Adrian means by that, and I would suggest that naive, first year students should probably do likewise.
“In any case, not unlike the 200s, the religion section, the 400s are mostly devoted to European languages, in a reflection of the mindset of Melvil Dewey’s time. On this basis languages from beyond Europe are compressed into sections 490 to 499.”
“This section is only for human languages?” you ask.
“Exactly right, Epson,” says Eloise. “Programming languages are at 005, and the languages of cats around 821 in the poetry of TS Eliot.”
“But surely programming languages are human languages?” says Bae.
“You’ll have to take that up with the ghost of Melvil Dewey,” says Eloise.
“Please follow me through this wormhole!” (goto 22)