The Language Instinct Book Summary

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."

The Language InstinctBook binding

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Book Review of The Language Instinct

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.

Book Overview of The Language Instinct

About the Book Author

S

Steven Pinker

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.

Book Details

Key information about the book.

Authors
Steven Pinker
Published
September 2007
Publisher
Harper Perennial Modern Classics
ISBN
0061336467
Language
English
Pages
576
Genres
Cognitive PsychologyPsychologyPopular ScienceScience and Nature

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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

Frequently Asked Questions