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A review by april_does_feral_sometimes
Language: The Cultural Tool by Daniel L. Everett
3.0
There is interesting information in the book, and about every 75 pages or so, the author makes an observation that is thrillingly cool. He studied Brazilian jungle tribes for their culture and language, and Everett includes some of the results which are naturally fascinating. The Piraha, for example, do not have words for colors or numbers. He makes a case that despite not having the words, the tribe can think, to some degree, using concepts involving counting or colors. The author also makes the point that we cannot judge a culture for inferiority or superiority. He briefly covers every major idea about language, but primarily those which he disagrees with.
The first half of the book refutes the various arguments and theories on the acquisition of language that other linguists have posited since the 1950's, particularly the theories about human instincts for language possibly existing in brain structures, or genes. If I read it right, the author believes culture defines language acquisition, not a brain structure or genes, but he thinks we have an instinct to desire communication, not necessarily by sounds, and to make sounds (the design of the human head being a major clue). In the second half he discusses his theory and some of the literature on the subject that helped Everett in his thinking. He spends some time discussing Aristotle's (yes, THAT Aristotle!) ideas on cultural interaction. Too briefly, he goes over the cognitive platforms for language such as the theory of mind, intentionality, contingency (causality or correlation), and cultural understanding about the world. Quote, "So, culture is both a product and a producer of language. Likewise, language is a product and a producer of culture." He also discusses perception, "...perception of [sounds] is based on our expectations." There is a chapter on how to build a language. He briefly mentions how the structure of a sentence affects perception and understanding, so that how the French language describes an action and how English describes an action can shape how the brain thinks about the action.
It's all fascinating stuff. Everett, in my layman's opinion, adds to the conversation on linguistics. However, I hated how this book is written. It is written in the language of a smart person talking down to a five year old. Perhaps, it simply is Everett was advised to write to the proverbial 8th grade reading level that all of the reading public supposedly attained after 12 years of study. It's audience is the general public, and I'm a general public member. However, the book's style annoyed the crap out of me. Also, it wanders a bit too conversationally for me into byways and alleys of nearby thoughts. I would have been happier with a more tightly constructed book.
The first half of the book refutes the various arguments and theories on the acquisition of language that other linguists have posited since the 1950's, particularly the theories about human instincts for language possibly existing in brain structures, or genes. If I read it right, the author believes culture defines language acquisition, not a brain structure or genes, but he thinks we have an instinct to desire communication, not necessarily by sounds, and to make sounds (the design of the human head being a major clue). In the second half he discusses his theory and some of the literature on the subject that helped Everett in his thinking. He spends some time discussing Aristotle's (yes, THAT Aristotle!) ideas on cultural interaction. Too briefly, he goes over the cognitive platforms for language such as the theory of mind, intentionality, contingency (causality or correlation), and cultural understanding about the world. Quote, "So, culture is both a product and a producer of language. Likewise, language is a product and a producer of culture." He also discusses perception, "...perception of [sounds] is based on our expectations." There is a chapter on how to build a language. He briefly mentions how the structure of a sentence affects perception and understanding, so that how the French language describes an action and how English describes an action can shape how the brain thinks about the action.
It's all fascinating stuff. Everett, in my layman's opinion, adds to the conversation on linguistics. However, I hated how this book is written. It is written in the language of a smart person talking down to a five year old. Perhaps, it simply is Everett was advised to write to the proverbial 8th grade reading level that all of the reading public supposedly attained after 12 years of study. It's audience is the general public, and I'm a general public member. However, the book's style annoyed the crap out of me. Also, it wanders a bit too conversationally for me into byways and alleys of nearby thoughts. I would have been happier with a more tightly constructed book.