The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language

New
Paperback
2015
$13.66

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, 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 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 'Reading Steven Pinker's book is one of the biggest favours I've ever done my brain . . . exhilaratingly brilliant.' Richard Dawkins 'An extremely valuable book.' Noam Chomsky 'Brilliant.' Observer Now with a new afterword

Synopsis

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, 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 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 'Reading Steven Pinker's book is one of the biggest favours I've ever done my brain . . . exhilaratingly brilliant.' Richard Dawkins 'An extremely valuable book.' Noam Chomsky 'Brilliant.' Observer Now with a new afterword

$13.66

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 528
Edition: 1
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 02 Apr 2015
ISBN 10: 014198077X
ISBN 13: 9780141980775

Author Bio

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.