In 'The Language Instinct', Steven Pinker explores the innate capacity for language that all humans possess, arguing that our ability to communicate is hardwired into our brains. He delves into the complexities of language development and the unique features that distinguish human speech from animal communication. With captivating anecdotes and scientific insights, Pinker reveals how language shapes our thoughts, culture, and identity. This thought-provoking work challenges conventional wisdom about how we learn language and showcases the wonders of human cognition. Prepare to rethink everything you know about the power and origins of language!
By Steven Pinker
Published: 2007
"Language is a window into human nature, revealing not just how we communicate, but how we think and understand the world."
In this classic, the world's expert on language and mind lucidly explains everything you always wanted to know about language: how it works, how children learn it, how it changes, how the brain computes it, and how it evolved. With deft use of examples of humor and wordplay, Steven Pinker weaves our vast knowledge of language into a compelling story: language is a human instinct, wired into our brains by evolution. The Language Instinct received the William James Book Prize from the American Psychological Association and the Public Interest Award from the Linguistics Society of America. This edition includes an update on advances in the science of language since The Language Instinct was first published.
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“Language is a window into human nature, revealing not just how we communicate, but how we think and understand the world.”
The Language Instinct
By Steven Pinker
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Steven Pinker is a renowned cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author, known for his engaging writing style that combines empirical research with clear, accessible language. He is the Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. Pinker has authored several influential books, including 'The Language Instinct', 'How the Mind Works', 'The Blank Slate', 'The Better Angels of Our Nature', and 'Enlightenment Now'. His works often explore the intersections of language, mind, and human nature, championing reason and scientific understanding as the path to progress.
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