Manny’s review of The Embedding > Likes and Comments
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This sounds amazing! Is the obscure South American language by any chance Piraha, or related to it, the one that apparently uses no recursion? I read a fantastic article in the New Yorker about it a couple of years ago.
I am pretty sure the tribe and its language were made up by Watson. I recall that the language was unusual in the way it treats center-embedding, or something like that... think it was more rather than less.
Brad wrote: "Freaking awesome. I am going to have to get this, but I need to read Slow Birds first."
I hadn't seen that collection! Might well check it out. Thanks!
My pleasure. You are always turning me on to amazing finds, it's the least I can do.
I just did read this amazing novel, Manny. Since I've read a good bit of anthropology (Colin Turnbull, Raymond Firth, Michael Harner) and I'm interested in Saussure's approach to language, I LOVED this novel. Every single page was a delight - eye-opening insights and rich texture. And nothing like aliens with extraordinary intelligence to add a bit of zest to the story. I had such a connection with the novel I ordered the Vintage Collectable edition - leather bound, gold-leaf, top-quality paper. I plan to return to this much overlooked classic again and again. I'll eventually write a review to share my enthusiasm. I also plan to read and review many other novels by Ian Watson.
Hi Glenn! I didn't even know there WAS a deluxe edition, I just read the trashy paperback one. Well, I am glad to hear that people have finally decided to take it seriously :)
Manny wrote: "Hi Glenn! I didn't even know there WAS a deluxe edition, I just read the trashy paperback one. Well, I am glad to hear that people have finally decided to take it seriously :)"
Oh, yes! Very seriously. I just did post the first comprehensive review of this mostly overlooked classic.
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Jan 06, 2009 02:57PM
This sounds amazing! Is the obscure South American language by any chance Piraha, or related to it, the one that apparently uses no recursion? I read a fantastic article in the New Yorker about it a couple of years ago.
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I am pretty sure the tribe and its language were made up by Watson. I recall that the language was unusual in the way it treats center-embedding, or something like that... think it was more rather than less.
Brad wrote: "Freaking awesome. I am going to have to get this, but I need to read Slow Birds first."I hadn't seen that collection! Might well check it out. Thanks!
My pleasure. You are always turning me on to amazing finds, it's the least I can do.
I just did read this amazing novel, Manny. Since I've read a good bit of anthropology (Colin Turnbull, Raymond Firth, Michael Harner) and I'm interested in Saussure's approach to language, I LOVED this novel. Every single page was a delight - eye-opening insights and rich texture. And nothing like aliens with extraordinary intelligence to add a bit of zest to the story. I had such a connection with the novel I ordered the Vintage Collectable edition - leather bound, gold-leaf, top-quality paper. I plan to return to this much overlooked classic again and again. I'll eventually write a review to share my enthusiasm. I also plan to read and review many other novels by Ian Watson.
Hi Glenn! I didn't even know there WAS a deluxe edition, I just read the trashy paperback one. Well, I am glad to hear that people have finally decided to take it seriously :)
Manny wrote: "Hi Glenn! I didn't even know there WAS a deluxe edition, I just read the trashy paperback one. Well, I am glad to hear that people have finally decided to take it seriously :)"Oh, yes! Very seriously. I just did post the first comprehensive review of this mostly overlooked classic.
