Question for Mr. Chiang

Mr. Chiang, where did your idea for the Heptapod languages come from? As an anthropology student, I am very interested in the linguistic aspects of "Story of Your Life." Did you base the languages on an actual group of people? For instance, the Quechua people of the eastern Amazon use mostly ideophones to communicate just like the Heptapods. When you were writing "Story of Your Life," was there a reason you did not create new "alien" words or did you feel that ideophones best expressed your vision for the story?

Most of your writing combines religion with technological and mechanical ideas. Are you interested in writing about social/political ideas?

Finally, just because I'm curious, what book are you reading at the moment?

Thanks for your time!
Meredith