rossbm's review against another edition
3.0
(read as physical book)
What's it about?
Stephen Pinker, a developmental psychologist, makes the case that human brains are hardwired to learn language. To support this claim, he draws upon Chomksy's theory of universal grammar, with examples of children quickly learning languages. For example, first generation slaves in Haiti spoke in pidgin French (no grammar, just words) to each other and to their children, but the first generation of children turned the pidgin into a creole language with consistent grammar. There's also an example of how second generation deaf children quickly become fluent in sign language, either though their parents speak it imperfectly.
What did I think?
I liked the book, but found it too dry and long. I wasn't too interested in the explanation of universal grammar, but I suppose that they were necessary to support more interesting arguments. The push back against the theory that the language you speak determines or strongly influences your thoughts was intriguing. Obviously some ideas are easier to express in particular languages, but maybe that is just a superficial difference, rather than indicating that the idea itself is harder to grasp?
What's it about?
Stephen Pinker, a developmental psychologist, makes the case that human brains are hardwired to learn language. To support this claim, he draws upon Chomksy's theory of universal grammar, with examples of children quickly learning languages. For example, first generation slaves in Haiti spoke in pidgin French (no grammar, just words) to each other and to their children, but the first generation of children turned the pidgin into a creole language with consistent grammar. There's also an example of how second generation deaf children quickly become fluent in sign language, either though their parents speak it imperfectly.
What did I think?
I liked the book, but found it too dry and long. I wasn't too interested in the explanation of universal grammar, but I suppose that they were necessary to support more interesting arguments. The push back against the theory that the language you speak determines or strongly influences your thoughts was intriguing. Obviously some ideas are easier to express in particular languages, but maybe that is just a superficial difference, rather than indicating that the idea itself is harder to grasp?
borumi's review against another edition
4.0
Enlightening and enjoyable reading.. I read this book right after Chomsky's 'On Language' and I think I should have reversed the order (it would have made my pace much faster! In fact, for those who can't trudge through Chomsky's writing and prefers a lighter and a more entertaining introduction to Universal Grammar should first read this book) Minor glitch: I get why he attacked the language mavens and relativists but he seems to run astray in expounding some points.
jatinnagpal's review against another edition
3.0
Fine book, except the parts where the author tries to defend English - for most of those were rather weak arguments that require little attempt to dismiss.
aminowrimo's review against another edition
4.0
read it for fun, then for a college course on linguistics. Offers an interesting view on linguistics for people who have no idea what it is.
mariposaazul21's review against another edition
5.0
This is an absolutely incredible book! Bear in mind though, it's possible that you'll only enjoy it if you find the following joke funny:
A businessman arriving in Boston for a convention found that his first evening was free, and he decided to go find a good seafood restaurant that served Scrod, a Massachussetts specialty. Getting into a taxi, he asked the cab driver, "Do you know where I can get Scrod around here?" "Sure," said the cabdriver. "I know a few places... but I can tell you it's not often I hear someone use the third-person pluperfect indicative anymore!"
A businessman arriving in Boston for a convention found that his first evening was free, and he decided to go find a good seafood restaurant that served Scrod, a Massachussetts specialty. Getting into a taxi, he asked the cab driver, "Do you know where I can get Scrod around here?" "Sure," said the cabdriver. "I know a few places... but I can tell you it's not often I hear someone use the third-person pluperfect indicative anymore!"
maitrey_d's review against another edition
4.0
It's a great introduction a the world of linguistics, and cognitive psychology, something I've never come across before.
Pinker is an award winning author, specializing in experimental "psycholinguistics"; and the Language Instinct was his first popular science book. Although it was published in 1994, most of it is still relevant (at least to me, as this subject matter is entirely new). (The new 2007 edition seems to updated, but I haven't read that edition)
The Language Instinct wonderfully combines cognitive sciences, behavioral genetics and evolutionary biology to make a case that language is not a complete human construct like say metal-working and pottery, but something innate (still affected by the environment though). There are cultures out there with no iron but none without a language. And there is no "bad language", all languages in the world follow their rules rigourously, even such derided ones like "black vernacular" and "teen-speak" according to Pinker. Although I'm no expert, I was convinced with Pinker's case for a "Universal Grammar". And although Pinker is only rehashing Noam Chomsky's work here, he digresses from Chomsky when he states that language is a product of natural selection (although he doesn't spend too much time on this at all).
The book really shines because of Pinker's witty and erudite writing. He's always engaging and does a really great job lightening the mood every now and then with hilarious pop-culture references when the going gets tough. And boy are some sections tough to get through. Believe me when I tried really hard, but I simply had to skip some sections, maybe I'll re-read them in a couple of years. Special mention for the amazing excerpts, newspaper headlines, and comic reproductions, Pinker definitely knows how to pick them!
Recommended to everyone with an interest in language, and how it affects our minds.
Pinker is an award winning author, specializing in experimental "psycholinguistics"; and the Language Instinct was his first popular science book. Although it was published in 1994, most of it is still relevant (at least to me, as this subject matter is entirely new). (The new 2007 edition seems to updated, but I haven't read that edition)
The Language Instinct wonderfully combines cognitive sciences, behavioral genetics and evolutionary biology to make a case that language is not a complete human construct like say metal-working and pottery, but something innate (still affected by the environment though). There are cultures out there with no iron but none without a language. And there is no "bad language", all languages in the world follow their rules rigourously, even such derided ones like "black vernacular" and "teen-speak" according to Pinker. Although I'm no expert, I was convinced with Pinker's case for a "Universal Grammar". And although Pinker is only rehashing Noam Chomsky's work here, he digresses from Chomsky when he states that language is a product of natural selection (although he doesn't spend too much time on this at all).
The book really shines because of Pinker's witty and erudite writing. He's always engaging and does a really great job lightening the mood every now and then with hilarious pop-culture references when the going gets tough. And boy are some sections tough to get through. Believe me when I tried really hard, but I simply had to skip some sections, maybe I'll re-read them in a couple of years. Special mention for the amazing excerpts, newspaper headlines, and comic reproductions, Pinker definitely knows how to pick them!
Recommended to everyone with an interest in language, and how it affects our minds.
bookgardendc's review against another edition
Super interesting but long and dense - put it down to read something lighter and just didn’t pick it up again
tacuazin's review against another edition
Some parts have been very interesting, but for a while now I'm drowning in the worst of a class on the grammar and morphology of English. I hated those in school, but at least then I was learning my own language.
News flasth: the word "language" does not limit to English. If that was the goal, the title should have been "The Language instinct: How the mind creates English".
News flasth: the word "language" does not limit to English. If that was the goal, the title should have been "The Language instinct: How the mind creates English".