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A review by juletzky
Im Spiegel der Sprache: Warum die Welt in anderen Sprachen anders aussieht by Guy Deutscher
3.0
This is a re-read that is even more interesting because I hadn't even begun studying linguistics when I read this the first time. I have to say that it is a very different book now! And, having now read many of the scholars Deutscher talks about, I have to agree with his general sentiment that it's not about what limits native languages put on their speakers, but more about the immense variety that language permits. However, there were a few things that rubbed me the wrong way.
First of all is the absolute lack of clear citations. I get that this is pop sci, but would a footnote hurt instead of a page-based system? And secondly, Deutscher's strategy with dealing with the racism and colonialist ideology that pervaded the field is just embarassing. Instead of clearly naming why racist attitudes made guys like Whorf so popular, or why languages are going extinct at an alarming rate (hint: it's not just globalism), Deutscher just alludes to it with a weird irony, exuding the attitude that serious scholars like him are above such nonsense. What is actually ironic is how he manages to reproduce the exact same stereotypes through the language he uses. The chapter about genus systems also misses no opportunity to make sexual comments about women. So, despite the very intriguing contents, a bit of a dissapointing second read.
First of all is the absolute lack of clear citations. I get that this is pop sci, but would a footnote hurt instead of a page-based system? And secondly, Deutscher's strategy with dealing with the racism and colonialist ideology that pervaded the field is just embarassing. Instead of clearly naming why racist attitudes made guys like Whorf so popular, or why languages are going extinct at an alarming rate (hint: it's not just globalism), Deutscher just alludes to it with a weird irony, exuding the attitude that serious scholars like him are above such nonsense. What is actually ironic is how he manages to reproduce the exact same stereotypes through the language he uses. The chapter about genus systems also misses no opportunity to make sexual comments about women. So, despite the very intriguing contents, a bit of a dissapointing second read.