25.1896, Books: The Language Hoax: McWhorter

Tue Apr 29 16:22:59 UTC 2014

LINGUIST List: Vol-25-1896. Tue Apr 29 2014. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 25.1896, Books: The Language Hoax: McWhorter

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Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 12:21:33
From: Taylor Coe [taylor.coe at oup.com]
Subject: The Language Hoax: McWhorter

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Title: The Language Hoax 
Subtitle: Why the World Looks the Same in Any Language 
Publication Year: 2014 
Publisher: Oxford University Press
	   http://www.oup.com/us

Book URL: http://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-language-hoax-9780199361588 

Author: John H. McWhorter

Hardback: ISBN:  9780199361588 Pages: 208 Price: U.S. $ 19.95

Abstract:

Japanese has a term that covers both green and blue. Russian has separate terms for dark and light blue. Does this mean that Russians perceive these colors differently from Japanese people? Does language control and limit the way we think? 

This short, opinionated book addresses the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues that the language we speak shapes the way we perceive the world. Linguist John McWhorter argues that while this idea is mesmerizing, it is plainly wrong. It is language that reflects culture and worldview, not the other way around. The fact that a language has only one word for eat, drink, and smoke doesn't mean its speakers don't process the difference between food and beverage, and those who use the same word for blue and green perceive those two colors just as vividly as others do. 

McWhorter shows not only how the idea of language as a lens fails but also why we want so badly to believe it: we're eager to celebrate diversity by acknowledging the intelligence of peoples who may not think like we do. Though well-intentioned, our belief in this idea poses an obstacle to a better understanding of human nature and even trivializes the people we seek to celebrate. The reality -- that all humans think alike -- provides another, better way for us to acknowledge the intelligence of all peoples. 

Linguistic Field(s): Philosophy of Language

Written In: English  (eng)

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