The Language Myth: Why Language Is Not an Instinct
- ISBN-10
- 1316123596
- ISBN-13
- 9781316123591
- Category
- Language Arts & Disciplines
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2014-09-22
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Author
- Vyvyan Evans
Description
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.
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Other editions
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- 2014-09-22
- 314 pages
- Paperback
- Cambridge University Press
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