The Language Instinct

How the Mind Creates Language

By: Steven Pinker

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

Length: 18 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

In this classic, the world’s expert on language and mind lucidly explains everything you always wanted to know about language: how it works, how children learn it, how it changes, how the brain computes it, and how it evolved. With deft use of examples of humor and wordplay, Steven Pinker weaves our vast knowledge of language into a compelling story: language is a human instinct, wired into our brains by evolution.

The Language Instinct received the William James Book Prize from the American Psychological Association and the Public Interest Award from the Linguistics Society of America. This edition includes an update on advances in the science of language since The Language Instinct was first published.

©2011 Steven Pinker (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Pinker writes with acid verve." ( Atlantic Monthly)

"An extremely valuable book, very informative, and very well written." (Noam Chomsky)

Great book. Terrible narrator

Would you listen to The Language Instinct again? Why?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another one of Arthur Morey’s performances?

No. He sounds like the automated calls from CVS telling me my prescription is ready. I sped up the replay to make it less boring.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Solid book about the nature of language

If you could sum up The Language Instinct in three words, what would they be?

Darwin wins again.

What did you like best about this story?

Steven Pinker explains very clearly the theory of human language as a biological adaptation. And he teaches you a lot of related subjects along the way.

The way Pinker conveys knowledge to the layperson and the specialist at the same time reminds me of Carl Sagan. Pinker's book is very well written and makes you want to read more and more about the subjects involving human language. In contrast, I was reading one of Terrence Deacon's books about language and got stuck with his tiresome writing.

Which character – as performed by Arthur Morey – was your favorite?

About the narrator, this was the second book I listened with Arthur Morey. Like in "The Better Angels of our Nature" his performance was flawless.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it's 19 hours of audio!

Any additional comments?

Excellent book for the lovers of linguistics. And an excellent opportunity for those interested in knowing more about this subject without getting bored.

Phenomenal, Witty, and Unpretentious Introduction

Pinker's The Language Instinct remains accessible and relevant to anyone wanting to learn about language. He incorporates humor and deep knowledge of cognitive science to paint a clear picture of how and why the mind uses language. He dispels ridiculous myths and also points out the colorful expression the English language has to offer. Absolutely a must-read for anyone who wants to know or thinks they know about language and linguistics.

Really Interesting Subject, Great Narrator

The subject matter is really interesting and Pinker does a great job of explaining things and providing examples that are helpful and give you a little laugh as well. And I love this narrator. I went looking for other things he's narrated because I enjoy listening to him.

Fully stacked with information!

liked the concept, but really felt like I needed to already know alot in advance

Great, but some aspects outdated

Fascinating book and Pinker is eloquent. However, many of his chapters have nothing to do with a language instinct: the chapters on historical linguistics, language mavens (which was hilariously brilliant), and others don’t support or disconfirm his hypothesis, and just end up being interesting airings of Pinker’s erudition, making for a much longer book than necessary.

Absolutely Amazing and Interesting

I loved this book! The narration is great. It's all about language and linguistics. You will find out why it's easier to learn a language as a child. How the chimps never really caught on to language like we thought they would. Why it's not really true that you think differently when speaking a different language. All language started as a proto world language and two languages in Africa directly descended from that. Go ahead, you can end a sentence with a preposition. That rule is just made-up! Learn why. This book kept me enthralled form start to finish. Includes some interesting cases of medical language defects and what they tell us. Easy to listen to and understand, and it's fun!!!

Good solid stuff

A very interesting and convincing argument to claim that the human ability to use language must have some basis in a genetic, instinctive 'grammar module' in the brain.

HUMAN LANGUAGE

“The Language Instinct” explores the origin and mechanics of human language. The author, Steven Pinker, offers more than a dilettante wants to know about language mechanics. But, Pinker offers credible and interesting information about where human language comes from and how it evolves.

There are many digressions in Pinker’s book about mechanics of speech, language dialects, and specific language disabilities. He criticizes some writers for improper use of language and enlightens listeners about the teachings of Norm Chomsky.

Changes in human language, according to Pinker, are an evolutionary inevitability. The complicated process of language creation is always in a state of change.

Pinker delves into dialects of language that differ by population cohort, environmental interaction, and social interchange. Pinker argues for continuation of rule-making in language but discounts belief that rules should not, cannot, or will not change. Pinker infers language rules should keep pace with common understanding and clear communication.

Overly Detailed

If you're a English Major or language major in general, you might like this book. Otherwise, you're will to listen will me smashed in by this book's huge list type example methodology.