The Language MythCambridge University Press, 2 ott 2014 - 304 pagine Language is central to our lives, the cultural tool that arguably sets us apart from other species. Some scientists have argued that language is innate, a type of unique human 'instinct' pre-programmed in us from birth. In this book, Vyvyan Evans argues that this received wisdom is, in fact, a myth. Debunking the notion of a language 'instinct', Evans demonstrates that language is related to other animal forms of communication; that languages exhibit staggering diversity; that we learn our mother tongue drawing on general properties and abilities of the human mind, rather than an inborn 'universal' grammar; that language is not autonomous but is closely related to other aspects of our mental lives; and that, ultimately, language and the mind reflect and draw upon the way we interact with others in the world. Compellingly written and drawing on cutting-edge research, The Language Myth sets out a forceful alternative to the received wisdom, showing how language and the mind really work. |
Sommario
2 | 27 |
3 | 64 |
Is language innate? | 95 |
Is language a distinct module in the mind? | 133 |
6 | 161 |
7 | 192 |
Language and mind regained | 229 |
Notes | 259 |
274 | |
301 | |
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ability abstract acquire activity animal communication animal communication systems apes appear basic colour terms behaviour Berlin and Kay Broca’s aphasia Broca’s area chapter child chimps Chomsky Chomsky’s claim cognitive complex concepts conceptual metaphor construction contexts cultural intelligence design features distinct encode English evidence evolutionary evolved example exhibit experience expression Fodor FOXP2 function genetic gestures give rise grammatical gender guage Guugu Yimithirr Homo human language idea infants innate instance interaction involves language acquisition language of thought language-as-instinct thesis language-as-use thesis Levinson linguistic relativity massive modularity meaning mental grammar Mentalese mind module Moreover noun object patterns Pinker produce provides psychologist range recognise Rossel Island schemas semantic sentence sequence sign language sound speakers specialised specific spoken language Stephen Levinson Steven Pinker structure supermodel symbols syntax Tomasello Universal Grammar verb vocabulary Washoe whales Whorf window cleaner word order world’s languages Yélî Yélî Dnye