Words and Minds

by Neil Mercer

Words and Minds takes a lively and accessible look at the evolution of language and how we use language in joint activities.

Genres: Language, Teaching, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published June 29, 2000

Reviews

[Sarah Mercedes Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Accessible and light in style - very useful for all those researching into oracy and how communication and thinking work together.

[Stevedutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how human beings think together and, through the medium of language, jointly construct meaning. The author adopts a descriptive linguistic approach so if you are looking for a prescription for how to write or speak the `Queen's English' then I suggest you look elsewhere.

It begins by looking, albeit briefly, at Vygotsky's seminal work on the relationship between language and thought, and continues by stressing the importance of context in the making of meaning. It then discusses the uses to which language has been put in the pursuit of power, influence and control, continues by exploring the contribution that living in communities has made to the development of collective thought and ends by examining the varied forms of dialogue that occur in different situations.

Though only a slight book and 'academic' in tone, it is, nevertheless, and as might be expected, very well written. More importantly, though, it manages, succinctly, to summarize the latest developments in linguistics and language study relating to the connections between language and thought and certainly highly recommended for anyone wanting a `taster' before delving into weightier tomes!