Although the evil characters of the poem are described as possessing other physical and mental abnormalities as well, a key way Dante defines the non-human, inadequately human, and pervertedly human is by deficient use of language.

'Even ten years ago it would have been very difficult to deal with these subjects and the way in which the Belgian and Flemish flags were used pervertedly' Professor Luc de Vos, holder of the History chair at the Royal Military School of Belgium in Brussels and vice-president of the exhibition, told History Today.

I was being truthful when I said that I was not pervertedly in love with strife.