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The Language Instinct
How the Mind Creates Language
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Description
How do babies learn to speak? Why are there so many languages? Do we think in our mother tongue? Who decides what's correct English? How did language evolve?
In this landmark book, The Language Instinct, Steven Pinker explains the mysteries of language within a coherent theory—that language is an adaptation for communication.
'Dazzling... Pinker's big idea is that language is an instinct... as innate to us as flying is to geese... Words can hardly do justice to the superlative range and liveliness of Pinker's investigations' - Independent
'A marvellously readable book... illuminates every facet of human language—its biological origin, its uniqueness to humanity, its acquisition by children, its grammatical structure, the production and perception of speech, the pathology of language disorders and the unstoppable evolution of languages and dialects' - Nature
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker is highly acclaimed for its engaging prose and insightful exploration of how language is a fundamental aspect of the human mind. Reviewers commend Pinker for effectively combining scientific research with accessible storytelling, making complex ideas about linguistics both comprehensible and fascinating. Critics also appreciate his argument for language as an innate faculty, highlighting the book's influential contribution to discussions in both philosophy and psychology.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780141980775
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 April 2015
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 23.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 363g
Pages: 528
About the Author
Steven Pinker is one of the world's most influential thinkers and writers on the human condition. His popular and highly praised books include The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, The Stuff of Thought, The Blank Slate, How the Mind Works, and The Language Instinct. The recipient of several major awards for his teaching, books, and scientific research, Pinker is Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He also writes frequently for The New York Times, the Guardian and other publications. He has been named Humanist of the Year, Prospect magazine's \"The World's Top 100 Public Intellectuals,\" Foreign Policy's \"100 Global Thinkers,\" and Time magazine's \"The 100 Most Influential People in the World Today.\"
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