The Lost Language of Cranes is a novel by David Leavitt, first published on September 26, 1986.

The Lost Language of Cranes was the second novel by David Leavitt, and deals primarily with the difficulties a young gay man, Philip Benjamin, has in coming out to his parents, Rose and Owen, and with their subsequent reactions.

Rose visits her son, who lives in a shabby neighborhood; he says he likes to go to the East Village.

His mother is tersely averse; his father says it is fine, though he starts weeping as soon as the young man has left.

In the library, Jerene reads an article about a child who emulates cranes as this was the only thing he would see out of his window from his cot, and his parents weren't about.

A few days later, he meets Rob in a bar and they return to the boy's dorm room where they have sex.

Owen invites Winston Penn to dinner, and attempts to fix him up with Philip.

Owen goes off to a Burger King until he calls his son asking for a place to stay for the night.

It has been said that 'the novel sums up the history of gay books themselves': that is, from the pangs of opprobrium (Owen) to self-acceptance (Philip).