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5th out of 9 books
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1 voter
Language: The Cultural Tool
A bold and provocative study that presents language not as an innate component of the brain—as most linguists do—but as an essential tool unique to each culture worldwide.
For years, the prevailing opinion among academics has been that language is embedded in our genes, existing as an innate and instinctual part of us. But linguist Daniel Everett argues that, like other too...more
For years, the prevailing opinion among academics has been that language is embedded in our genes, existing as an innate and instinctual part of us. But linguist Daniel Everett argues that, like other too...more
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published
March 13th 2012
by Pantheon
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Jul 08, 2012
aPriL MEOWS often with scratching
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
finished-reading-but-i-hated-it,
non-fiction
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 th...more
After reading and reviewing Don’t Sleep There Are Snakes, I emailed Dan Everett to ask him for answers to the questions I raised in my review. His response was that I should read his newest book, Language The Cultural Tool. And so I have. I would advise at least glossing over that review as this one is in part a commentary on my previous thoughts.
Everett’s style is very approachable and the book is a clean read, good for the novice. In fact, I think my biggest complaint is that Everett glosses t...more
Everett’s style is very approachable and the book is a clean read, good for the novice. In fact, I think my biggest complaint is that Everett glosses t...more
Ever since the times of Wilhelm von Humboldt, linguists have known that each language has its own unique set of grammatical rules. What can these rules be? In the 1950s a German linguist said, "Languages can differ from each other without limit and in unpredictable ways." Noam Chomsky disagrees; he believes that the grammar of each human language is a variation of the same universal grammar, which would be apparent to a Martian linguist, just as it would be apparent to a Martian biologist that a...more
Everett is not a Chomsky proponent. Instead, he argues that we invented language and we can lose it. He combines anthropology, structural analysis, linguistics and field study to bolster his argument.
I'm not a linguist, but I'm not sure I'm convinced of his central argument in the end. I agree that language is heavily influenced by culture and socialization, but there seems to be SOMEthing we have that is like an innate capacity to develop it.
Nevertheless, the stories of the people he visits are...more
I'm not a linguist, but I'm not sure I'm convinced of his central argument in the end. I agree that language is heavily influenced by culture and socialization, but there seems to be SOMEthing we have that is like an innate capacity to develop it.
Nevertheless, the stories of the people he visits are...more
For anyone who has ever wanted to understand what it means for language to be a cultural tool and to have a symbiotic, inter-influential (if you will) relationship with cultures. Most people hold many misconceived notions about language's and language acquisition thanks, in part, to the pervasive dogma that follows Chomsky and his universal grammar theory. This book examines this in depth. Everett has an enjoyable, easy-to-read voice with personal anecdotes, engaging stories about small language...more
An interesting read that provokes thinking on language. The author uses his extensive field experience working and living with isolated tribes in the Amazon jungle to demonstrate his thesis that language is acquired through exposure as a child and language evolves with cultural influences and not as some inherent language organ in the brain as Chomsky proposes. The book is laid out as a series of chapters that attempt to address various aspects of the argument. The book is written with non-lingu...more
It's good to strive. It's good to reach for the sky. It's good to fail. Is this work a good failure?
The author adopts a sceptical tone towards other theories but begs the indulgence of readers for his own by presenting meagre scientific evidence in support. It's not wrong for a thesis to ask an effort of readers to understand it, but if the author is unwilling or unable to find convincing examples perhaps too much effort is required from readers to support the thesis. Although there are no footn...more
The author adopts a sceptical tone towards other theories but begs the indulgence of readers for his own by presenting meagre scientific evidence in support. It's not wrong for a thesis to ask an effort of readers to understand it, but if the author is unwilling or unable to find convincing examples perhaps too much effort is required from readers to support the thesis. Although there are no footn...more
Feb 19, 2013
Nick
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
language-and-linguistics
Daniel Everett says it clearly in the title: language is a cultural tool. Then he says it again throughout the book. And he repeats the message every time he provides relevant, interesting and fairly convincing evidence from a wide range of cultures and contexts from the familiar to the exotic. So who is he trying to convince? Not me. I don't need convincing. I know where he's coming from, and I would even go as far as to say that he has over-emphasised the communication aspect of language. Lang...more
I loved Daniel Everett's previous book, "Don't Sleep There are Snakes." This new one is less personal about Everett's experiences with the Amazon's Pirahã people, and more general about language, evolution, and human development. He delves into a huge arena of subjects, from the structure of stores, organization of grammar, and the formation of words. His thoughts on the powerful hand of culture in determining language as well as languages influence on culture are filled with valuable insights....more
Mar 18, 2012
!Tæmbuŝu
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ebook-available,
language
KOBOBOOKS
Reviewed by The Guardian (15 Mar 2012)
Reviewed by The Guardian (15 Mar 2012)
One of the most interesting books I have read about the science of language. The book is dense but worth the time!
A bit of an argument with Chomsky, but skim the technical bits and enjoy how he finds the soul in language.
I didn't have enough time to read all of it. I read about 2/3 of it. Initially, I had doubts about his argument, but he's convinced me. Now I am trying to find the documentary online.
May 12, 2013
Oli
marked it as to-read
May 11, 2013
Ian Graham
is currently reading it
May 08, 2013
Brandon Vaughan
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Apr 28, 2013
Manos
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Apr 26, 2013
Eleanor Pinchot
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Apr 24, 2013
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Apr 24, 2013
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Apr 19, 2013
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Apr 22, 2013
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Science and Natur...: July 2012 - Language: The Cultural Tool by Daniel L. Everett | 6 | 25 | Jul 15, 2012 03:25pm |
Daniel L. Everett is dean of arts and sciences at Bentley University. He has held appointments in linguistics and/or anthropology at the University of Campinas, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Manchester, and Illinois State University.
More about Daniel L. Everett...
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