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)

'of' is meaningless!?

This book came out in 1994 and it says a lot about how fast this field is growing that certain parts already feel a little outdated. Fortunately, there is a 2007 update at the end of the book that comments on and catches up with some of the latest developments. That was one of the best parts for me, and I didn't have a clue it would be included.

Pinker is at his best relating about the exciting research going on in neurolinguistics. He is less entertaining when he tries to argue his support for a particular ideological position. I don't have an issue with the idea that a 'language instinct' may exist, but I was never quite clear what he meant by the term 'instinct.' Regardless, as an introduction to all the key topics of interest in his field, this is a great book.

That is probably a key point. Some books are very narrowly focused and organized to support a key thesis. This is more of a survey-of-the-landscape type book. I suspect Pinker got attached to his title and decided everything had to tie back to that in some way. So the book will meander around from one fascinating topic to the next and suddenly he's harping on instincts again and telling why he believes it's true and why we should care.

Apart from that minor complaint, I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. I find modern discussions of linguistics to shed so much light on 'true' grammar and understanding the role words really play in sentence meaning (including his little discussion about whether the word 'of' actually has any meaning or merely marks other words that convey meaning). I especially enjoyed the afterward, not just because of the research updates, but because it showed the author himself had grown over the intervening 13 years and acquired a sense of humor about himself.

Intellectually Stimulating

Any additional comments?

This book was quite a challenge as it got quite technical at times. But I learned a lot about languages and grammar, and how the brain influences each. While I was not convinced that language is an instinct or that there is a grammar gene, there is ample evidence that there is a significant relationship between neuorlogical processes in the brain and grammar and language.

When I read other books now, I look more at structure and how authors express ideas, what makes things clear or confusing, and notice the difference between writing in different periods.

Language is truly the gift of the gods.

Would you try another book from Steven Pinker and/or Arthur Morey?

Yes, he certainly puts his case together well and thoroughly.

What was most disappointing about Steven Pinker’s story?

I didn't have the intellectual ability to understand or remember some of his case.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, the narration is excellent to present this kind of study.

Did The Language Instinct inspire you to do anything?

Yes, try and beat the idea that I will never speak another language like a native. The argument Steven Pinker puts is solid, but I like the challenge to try.

Any additional comments?

I never realised how language is the key indicator to us humans being top of the pecking order or how we all seem to think what is good language, but what really is a never ending changing, developing and growing form of communication. Steven Pinker takes us from concepts to mouthing words, from grammar to history of languages. From the child to the adult and why apes don't talk. It is a good intellectual book to listen to. I enjoyed the book even though I am not at the level in my thinking to fully understand all that was presented. Nicely phrased though.

Thought provoking and clearly written

I was initially concerned by the length of this book, being a sign that I was in for a tedious listen. How pleasantly surprised I was by this clearly written and interesting work. Fascinating look at how similar all languages are and how they evolve over time. Pinker shows that for the human species, language is instinctual. Highly recommended.

Narrator is thoroughly mind numbing

The subject and content is fascinating. The narrator makes me want to scrape my nails down a chalkboard just so I have something interesting to listen to.

Not your typical linguistic book.

What did you love best about The Language Instinct?

This book delves into the history and evolution of language. It's nice to get the "how we got here", which is much more enlightening.

declaring the wonder of the speech instinct.

extremely informative. delivering superb expertise in a way a non scientist can understand. The narrator sounds grandfatherly, which is appropriate for a book that talks a lot about children. The book will convince you that the language instinct is one of the wonders of the natural world, with such sophistication it is difficult to explain how it evolved.

An absolutely fascinating book

A must-read (or hear) for anyone with an interest in language/linguistics, school reform, or psychology.

Interesting but technical book. Sound is flawed.

Steven Pinker is an excellent writer and an all-around smart guy. I always learn a lot when I read anything by Steven Pinker. Having said that, though, I have to admit that parts of this book were somewhat dull (such as the detailed analysis of grammar in chapter 4), and parts were a little hard to follow. I feel like I would need to listen to the book a second time to catch all the parts I missed when my wind wandered. But, overall, I think the book is well worth reading.

The narrator himself is fine, but the recording is poor. The "s" sounds are very harsh and prominent. I think this problem is called "sibilance". I had to turn the treble way down on my car's sound system, and I still cringed whenever a word had an "s" in it.

Good premise, but reads like a text book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book to a linguist, but it's way too verbose for easy reading. For each point he pulls out an arsenal of examples.

What was most disappointing about Steven Pinker’s story?

I think that it could have been half as long and twice as powerful.