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Language in Thought and Action

by S.I. Hayakawa, Alan R. Hayakawa, Robert MacNeil (Contributor)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 368 ratings · 65 reviews

In an era when communication has become increasingly diverse and complex, this classic work on semantics—now fully revised and updated—distills the relationship between language and those who use it.

Renowned professor and former U.S. Senator S. I. Hayakawa discusses the role of language in human life, the many functions of language, and how language—sometimes without our k...more

Paperback, Fifth Edition, 216 pages

Published January 1st 1991 by Mariner Books (first published 1939)

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Jul 03, 2010 Bryan added it

Read this book -- It helps to open one's mind!: S. I. Hayakawa's "Language in Thought and Action" is an excellent read. There isn't much that I can add to what has already been said by other reviewers. In terms of writing and speaking, this book will help me to remain cognizant about the words I use, their meanings, and their contexts. As a reader of books, articles, ads, etc., as well as one who "listens" to what others are saying, this book will help me to recognize that I must discern the "me...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is an interesting, concise, and well-written book about linguistics, particularly semantics. It particularly deals with how we know what we know, and how we frequently systematically misunderstand or miscommunicate because of limitations of language - or our use of language - for conveying what we mean.

In many ways, it is about the evolution of prejudice in individual minds as a consequence of confusing levels of abstraction, so that "Pigs are dirty" implies that Hampton is dirty beca...more This book is an interesting, concise, and well-written book about linguistics, particularly semantics. It particularly deals with how we know what we know, and how we frequently systematically misunderstand or miscommunicate because of limitations of language - or our use of language - for conveying what we mean.

In many ways, it is about the evolution of prejudice in individual minds as a consequence of confusing levels of abstraction, so that "Pigs are dirty" implies that Hampton is dirty because Hampton is a pig, even though Hampton has always demonstrated excellent hygiene. The problem is that "Hampton" is a specific pig, being observed at a specific time, and is at a different level of abstraction than "pig" in general (or even "farm animal" or "animal" or all kinds of other categories you could put him into). Even if my whole experience of pigs leads me to believe they are dirty, my experience remains limited, and I may err in applying the trait to Hampton. Unwillingness to let Hampton be clean is a prejudice related to cognitive inflexibility - often related to the inability to see different levels of abstraction for what they are. The characteristic metaphor here is that "maps" - levels of abstraction - fail to correspond to "territories." He details the differences between reports, inferences, and judgments, which are easily confused, at times with significant consequences.

The book does not entirely dwell on the negative. It has interesting discussions of the ways we use talk ritually. In such instances, the words have little to do with what is communicated, or why the words are said. These analyses are well-done and instructive.

Towards the end of the book, Hayakawa turns from describing the more basic aspects of representing information to the ways certain systems of representation - such as television - change our perspective and understanding in ways that might not be desirable. He describes the effects of television on advertising, human motivation, and politics. He ends with a discussion of "cultural lag," which is a sociological term for "the continued existence of obsolete institutional habits and forms." The characteristic metaphor is having "horse and buggy" ways - living as though one's social conventions were appropriate even though technological and social advancement have changed the entire landscape for social interaction.
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Nov 13, 2011 Nick rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: language

Wow! This was great! Answers such questions as, why do we have language at all? How do words and the things words represent get mixed up by our brain? How does all of this impact our lives, and our civilizations? Perhaps I'm just new to reading about semantics, but I found the book's subject matter highly engrossing.

Along the way it also systemizes a lot of common sense notions of language. Admitting my ignorance of Wittgenstein, this sounds a lot like him. The book also reminded me of the Black...more

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Dec 22, 2012 sla rated it 4 of 5 stars

p 19

The first of the principles governing symbols is this: The symbol is not the thing symbolized; the word is not the thing; the map is not the territory it stands for.

p 21

We all inherit a great deal of useless knowledge, and a great deal of misinformation and error, so that there is always a portion of what we have been told that must be discarded. It should be noticed that there are three ways of getting false maps of the world into our heads: first, by having them given to us; second, by mak

...more p 19

The first of the principles governing symbols is this: The symbol is not the thing symbolized; the word is not the thing; the map is not the territory it stands for.

p 21

We all inherit a great deal of useless knowledge, and a great deal of misinformation and error, so that there is always a portion of what we have been told that must be discarded. It should be noticed that there are three ways of getting false maps of the world into our heads: first, by having them given to us; second, by making them up for ourselves by misreading true maps; third, by constructing them ourselves by misreading territories. But the cultural heritage that is transmitted to us—our socially pooled knowledge, both scientific and humane, has been valued principally because we believe that it gives us accurate maps of experience.

p 130-131

To attempt to converse in this way is to make all our social contacts occasions for what we have earlier called “the pooling of knowledge.” We can, if we are able to listen as well as to speak, become better informed and wiser as we grow older instead of being stuck, like some people, with the same little bundle of prejudices at sixty-five that we had at twenty-five.

Statements made in everyday conversation, even if based on slipshod inferences and hasty over-generalizations, can usually be found to have some modest degree of truth value. To find the needle of meaning in the haystacks of nonsense that the other fellow is talking is to learn something, even from the apparently prejudiced and uninformed. And if the other fellow is equally patient about looking for the needle of meaning in our haystacks of nonsense, he may learn something from us. Ultimately, all civilized life depends upon the willingness on the part of all of us to learn as well as to teach. To delay one’s reactions an to be able to say “Tell me more,” and then to listen before reacting…

p159

If pictures give television its power, excessive reliance on them constitutes its weakness. Television news focuses on things it can easily symbolize visually, at the expense of things that are harder to depict. A few homeless people or a family being evicted can be televised to depict the larger problems of housing shortages and homelessness, but it’s hard to televise houses not being built, rents increasing, or employment declining. It’s easy to televise motorists in a gasoline line but hard to televise a national strategy for lessening dependence on imported oil. The visual aspect of television, adept at specifics, has trouble climbing back up the abstraction ladder to levels of greater generality and applicability.

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Jul 29, 2012 D. Morgenstern rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reviewed

“Expose to this book was truly one of my formative experiences” Robert McNeil (news reporter and broadcaster) writes in his introduction in the fifth edition. I can say the same thing. I came across this book as I am currently moving, and I do keep those textbooks that I think will one day serve me later in life. With its wrinkled pages, blazingly blue highlighted passages, and a coffee stain that still smells sweet, my copy can certainly attest to receiving a great deal of love over the years.

H...more “Expose to this book was truly one of my formative experiences” Robert McNeil (news reporter and broadcaster) writes in his introduction in the fifth edition. I can say the same thing. I came across this book as I am currently moving, and I do keep those textbooks that I think will one day serve me later in life. With its wrinkled pages, blazingly blue highlighted passages, and a coffee stain that still smells sweet, my copy can certainly attest to receiving a great deal of love over the years.

Hayakawa overall was an amazing man. He was a college professor, state senator, and immigrant. He speaks quite candidly about his experience of turning suspicion to sympathy during WW2 with words alone. He was the sort of person that could make you reconsider your entire world view. He did for the professor who used this book in his class and that man carried on Hayakawa’s legacy by teaching me to look at language and social structure as I never had before.

Hayakawa’s main point in the book is that language is ultimately a cooperative tool that only human beings posses. We are at our core a cooperative species that must inter-depend on each other to survive. That it is a fallacy to attempt to indoctrinate rules for other species for our own. That “survival of the fittest” has no place in human society for this rule would kill us all off, a species that survives only because we all contribute, fit or not.

I imagine Hayakawa’s rather pacifistic and liberal ideas have always been at odds with mainstream culture. However as a man who suffered from such prejudice simply because of his race and didn’t become bitter and angry as a result; I think his point of view may have something to teach us all.

The book can be used in every career as well. For we are all subject to advertising, and double-speak in the news and politics. Hayakawa spends a great deal of time deconstructing the word play used by the media, companies, and politicians. He gives even the common man a way to see through the smokescreen that surrounds us, but most of us are completely unaware of.

Some people have called his examples dated, which is inevitable when you write in a society that is as fluid as our own. Unfortunately with Mr. Hayakawa now being deceased, we will probably never have another updated edition. Though some of his examples may be dated however, I still think they are very valid and plenty of them defy the zeitgeist of society anyway.

Definitely worth a read, whoever you are.

Review also available on my blog: The Morningstar.(less)

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Mar 17, 2010 Dave rated it 5 of 5 stars

Linguistics schlinguistics… this is also a book about politics and public policy (Language in Thought and ACTION), and the best one about either subject that I’ve ever read. It gives me hope that there is possibility for greater cooperation among us all, despite all of our real and, more importantly, perceived differences.

Yeah, there’s a lot of “common sense” in there, but it’s put in a framework that makes it much easier to identify and understand how others are speaking or thinking.

I suppose...more

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Nov 29, 2008 Chris Wells rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is a lot of "common sense" (or should I say "uncommon sense"?) in this book. This book helped clarify what I already knew but failed to put into practice about the language I use to describe, not just the world around me, but myself. I found the distinctions between descriptions, inferences, and judgments especially helpful. However, I find the structural differential of general semantic "orthodoxy" much more helpful than the abstraction ladder, though the abstraction ladder could serve as...more

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Jul 13, 2009 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of the most enlightening books I have ever read. Hayakawa is the kind of incredibly bright mind whose writing can make you think more methodically, conclude things more confidently, and feel smarter yourself. Somehow he seems like a friend at tea - but his observations are so clear that you wonder how he can outside enough to notice all this, and inside enough to feel familiar and patient and maybe kind. Thus, this non-fiction book was far, far more of a page turner for me than most...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Geraldine rated it 5 of 5 stars

There are books you want to keep for yourself, this is not one of them. One you've read it, you feel an urge to pass it along. It is so easy to read although it deals with not so easy concepts that I even want to read it to my 3 years old. Don't report me for child abuse read it and you'll see. This book is a toolkit that every youth should receive from their teacher, and eventually the world will work better. Many thanks to the Professor who passed it on to me.

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Feb 09, 2013 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

For someone who has spent a lot of time thinking about how language impacts thought, Mr. Hayakawa's insights may not be challenging enough. Since I was already aware of many of the points he made and subsequently repeated throughout the book, I found it to be a bit boring. The very last chapters regarding language and advertising were the most appealing and interesting to me, and other readers might appreciate them as well, especially given the current interest in marketing thanks to Mad Men. Fo...more

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Mar 07, 2010 Erik Graff rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: semanticists

Recommended to Erik by: Mr. Silkowski

Shelves: psychology

I read a library copy of this book in high school, probably on assignment from my senior English teacher, Mr. Silkowski. It was the first book I'd ever read on communication theory and semantics other than Marshall McLuhan and it left far less of an impression, perhaps because it had been assigned by a teacher I didn't particularly like rather than recommended by an older friend whom I admired. The notion of General Semantics, however, I did find intriguing.

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Jul 20, 2011 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful, highly readable account of how language defines us as much as we define it (if we define it at all). As the joke goes, "In Soviet Russia, language speaks YOU." Except it's not just in Russia! This is also apparently a much clearer elucidation of Alfred Zorbyzski's school of "general semantics" - that is, the idea that language "enslaves us by conditioning us to perceive false realities" (wiki's words, not mine!). Remember, the map is not the territory!

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Sep 25, 2010 Kim Marshall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lingustics, favorites

In my mind this book should be required reading for all freshman in college ... and then they need to reread it again just before they graduate ... just in case they were not yet emotionally prepared for the depth of this work as freshman and to strengthen its message as they step out into the world as "adults".

This is one of perhaps a dozen books that has had and immense impact on how I view the world and my relationship to it. It taught me to question the words both I and others use and to und...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Gilad Ben Baruch rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: skeptical, linguistics, how-to-think, psychology

Well...This will hold little value for those interested in linguistics & semantics, but I find it extremely useful for critical thinking and reflection on language (map and territory, thought-terminating phrases, sensible definitions, level of abstraction, manipulation of semantics and more). The small cartoons illustrating the different point are great.
Tho, take this book with a substantial grain of salt, it overviews language from a positivest point of view (the verification principle as m...more

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May 22, 2010 Derek Baad rated it 5 of 5 stars

Though a little dated with its analysis of how technology is changing our language and our thinking, the rest of this book is as concise and thought-provoking as anything I've read in a while. Hayakawa's analysis of how the language we speak forms our personal identities and cultural norms is insightful and succinct - theoretical without being bogged down in academic jargon. Highly recommended.

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Feb 15, 2009 Bud Hewlett rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had to read this book in college (late 60's) and later bought a used copy to read again (early 90's). Have since read it a 3rd time. I dreaded the prospect of reading it in college, but found it surprising and readable. It's somewhat dated but still an excellent book and in my opinion should be required reading by all.

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Mar 10, 2011 George King rated it 5 of 5 stars

Early in my career, I used this book for the basis of a course on semantics. The author's influence on my thinking and my use of language has been profound. The difference between the single-valued and the multi-valued orientation is a lesson that still needs to be learned by our political ideologues and talking heads.

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Oct 22, 2009 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy-linguistics

This book taps into that great Niagara of information that surrounds us in everyday life, language. The author puts this fascinating flow of information under the microscope and shares with the reader important insights into how the sounds we call words and their meanings affect thoughts and have shaped human's actions.

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Aug 23, 2011 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars

With a million copies sold this does say alot about the easy and accessible nature of the writing. If you are into language or a linguist I don't see how this is not on your shelf. It is amusing to see the modern references peppered amongst the preWWII perspective and such. Great read and great book.

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Sep 05, 2010 Kevin rated it 2 of 5 stars

While I found many of the concepts interesting, the book seemed a bit dated; many of the cultural references could use a facelift. With my personality this would suit me better as a group discussion book or as source material for a class - it was difficult to get through on my own.

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Mar 14, 2010 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this book. Period. I was unsure if I was going to enjoy it in the least bit but I LOVE IT! Hayakawa is brilliant! I was so engrossed in this book it's not even funny. I'm not selling it back to the bookstore after this semester. I've written my name inside...it is mine forever!!!

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Sep 28, 2011 Joe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Should be required reading in high school. I cannot believe I have not heard of this great book before now. Has an extensive bibliography. Highly recommend this book to anyone who want to think/write/speak with precision, clarity, and responsibly. I plan on rereading this one.

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Mar 05, 2011 Tim rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a great book full of useful and important information. Easy and enjoyable to read, while still having a sophisticated attitude. A must read for those who need to understand how to communicate with others.

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Jul 25, 2011 Marc Simmons rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is worthy of memorization in its entirety! I'm disappointed there are only 5 stars to rate from. I think I need to lower my ratings of other books to give this one more weight.

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Jan 03, 2010 Thom Dunn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: america-1-american, education, language, a-own-hardcover, right-wing, text

Hayakawa's infamous ego-tripping is on display here. Makes his examples --misguided attempts at humor--distracting. I think my sainted mentor liked Hayakawa in 1960 for not being stuffy.

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Oct 26, 2011 Jared Gillins marked it as to-read

Er, putting this on hold for a short bit while I focus on ANOTHER book I'm hoping will help me with a writing project. This essay is more important than the short story... I'll leave this here in my "currently reading" shelf, but it's gonna be on the back burner.

I read the fifth (I think) edition of this book as a freshman in college. It made an impression on me. I wanted to read it again, but from an earlier edition (it's been greatly truncated over the years and several reviews I read said tha...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Keith Kendall rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: philosophy

Although a linguist friend didn't think much of Hayakawa's book, I found it very thought provoking, and therefore meaningful.

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Jan 27, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

This book was not what I expected, but I have a feeling I'll find it useful over time anyway. I thought it would be about how to better communicate what I am saying and how to better understand what others are saying, but the text wasn't so explicit. Instead the author lays out a set of ground rules for communication. This is not grammar, this is more structure and impact. Things like connotation and denotation, intensional versus extensional meaning, levels of abstraction, two-mindedness.

I hope...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Ama rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was SOOO interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and picked it up by serendipity!

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Jan 19, 2008 Steve Keane added it

A classic in the field of modern linguistics. Hayakawa was, among many things, President of San Francisco State University, United States Senator from California, and President of the Institute of General Semantics. I first read it in a journalism class in college. I was already familiar with most of the main ideas in GS but reading Hayakawa's book in my early 20s really influenced my thinking. The idea that language shapes the way we think and react is not exclusive to GS, but it is an exceptio...more

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About S.I. Hayakawa

Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa was a Canadian born American academic and political figure of Japanese ancestry. He was an English professor, served as president of San Francisco State University and then a United States Senator from California from 1977 to 1983.

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“It is not true that 'we have only one life to live'; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish.” — 77 people liked it

“To perceive how language works, what pitfalls it conceals, what its possibilities are, is to comprehend a crucial aspect of the complicated business of living the life of a human being.” — 1 person liked it

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