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I remember an interesting book, in which the state of science was quite advanced, and, the process of learning a particular advanced profession was less about learning the related skills, and more about learning how to speak the language.

Can you help me identify this book (or maybe it was a series)?

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That reminds me of Charles Sheffield's novella "At the Eschaton" which became "Tomorrow and Tomorrow", 1997

"Language must have changed completely," I said. "I cannot understand them at all." "Understand them? The doctors?" He looked surprised. "Of course not. Neither can I. Naturally they are speaking Medicine. " I raised my eyebrows. The look must have survived with its meaning intact, for he went on. "I speak Music and History..."

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5

You might be thinking of "The Languages of Pao", by Jack Vance.

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    That's not quite it - in the book I'm looking for, languages evolved as a side effect of the level of specialization required before being able to participate in work in a particular field.
    – blueberryfields
    Commented Feb 24, 2012 at 19:13

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