'I was enthralled by Guy Deutscher's The Unfolding of Language, a history of how words came to take the forms they do, and therefore a history of the forms of the human mind.' item 2 The Unfolding Of Language: The Evolution of Mankind- Guy Deutscher Book Like New 1 - The Unfolding Of Language: The Evolution of Mankind- Guy Deutscher Book … This book in fact reflects many thoughts and ideas that I have had about language and language evolution over the years - but the author has actually developed them and presents them in a reader-friendly, even enjoyable form. A dramatization, in modern theatrical style, of the life and thought of the Viennese-born, Cambridge-educated philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), whose principal interest was the nature and limits of language. Summary. Of all mankind’s manifold creations, language must take pride of place. It's an absolutely fascinating read, and a real eye opener, and what's very special about it is that it all sounds very much common sense - nothing is too complicated, the whole book almost is kind of obvious - the way Sherlock Holmes' insights are obvious to Dr. Watson in the hindsight. A couple of days ago I finished reading 'The Unfolding of Language : An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention' by Guy Deutscher. Free delivery on qualified orders. If you are a linguistic aficionado, you have always been looking for the holy grail of the linguistics book. In its own right it is a tool of extraordinary sophistication, yet based on an idea of ingenious simplicity: ‘this marvellous invention of composing out of twenty-five or thirty sounds that infinite variety of expressions which, whilst having in themselves no likeness to what is in our mind, allow us to disclose to others its whole secret, and to make known to those who cannot penetrate it all that we imagine, and all the various stirrings of our soul’. And yet should Many books which delve into this meaty topic provide a lot of cute examples of etymology, without a really coherent exposition of the processes that have shaped the structure of language, and how linguists uncovered them. Much of it is filmed in the style of found footage movies. The kind of 5 star book which makes me want to go back and knock down some of my past reads by a star or two. The vocabulary is very down-to-earth because all the complexities of linguistics are broken down into pieces of information that one can easily relate to because of everyday experience with language, while the reader is still informed about the major theories and the theoreticians of linguistics. It's also worth noticing the highly complex framework of Semitic languages as well as how basic choices in the verb-object order can ultimately define the overall structure of an idiom (Turkish vs English). Another interesting aspect is the realization of mankind's inclination for doing more with less and the need for order reflected in the constant evolution of language. Language conceals its art. Chomsky's theory of language development is one the most studied and discussed theories in the field of linguistics. Wow, it's exhausting just to say the name, imagine what it felt like to read the book. This despite the fact that his cover includes the popular ape-man image. This sleek design allows single sounds to convey useful information, and in fact even the absence of a sound has been enlisted to express something specific. Even so, there is just one flaw in all these hymns of praise, for the homage to language’s unique accomplishment conceals a simple yet critical incongruity. To help inspire... To see what your friends thought of this book. It is a magical journey into what makes languages. 40,000 first printing. It's very readable and entertaining and I don't think that I will ever look at language quite the same way again. It is easy to read even for someone who has never read any linguistics books. The Fall of 2016. Read The Unfolding Of Language book reviews & author details and more at Amazon.in. Recommended by Heying & Weinstein 4/21/20 livestream. And yes, metaphors are the erodent of language (in case you were wondering). on Values of Social Justice and Inclusion, Cloonan on Analysing a Children’s Television Phenomenon, Lankshear and Knobel on Pedagogy for i-Mode, Labov on African-American English Vernacular, Schultz on Democratic Curriculum in a Chicago School, van Haren et al. Who could possibly have come up with such a nifty contraption? It's an absolutely fascinating read, and a real eye opener, and what's very special about it is that it all sounds very much common sense - nothing is too complicated, the whole book almost is kind of obvious - the way Sherlock Holmes' insights are obvious to Dr. Wat. Or deductive reasoning. I got this book with the expectation that it would be about the evolution of language, i.e. Many a dinner table conversation is embellished by such vignettes, for few subjects lend themselves more readily to disquisition than the character of different languages and their speakers. If you love reading as much as our colleagues, then your summer fun itinerary will most likely include books. English is an adaptable, even promiscuous language, and Italian-ah, Italian! Another interesting aspect is the realization of mankind's inclination for doing more with less and the need for order reflected in the constant evolution of language. The most extraordinary thing about language, however, is that one doesn’t have to be a Napoleon or a Newton to set its wheels in motion. How else could this instrument make so much out of barely three dozen measly morsels of sound? Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Unfolding Of Language. Unlike many such books, it doesn't just focus on sound change, but has at least as much discussion of grammaticalization. I can highly recommend it. Often, it is only the estrangement of foreign tongues, with their many exotic and outlandish features, that brings home the wonder of language’s design. . Fabulous. Compared to language, all other inventions pale in significance, since everything we have ever achieved depends on language and originates from it. The book uses English examples in abundance, but also delves into the sentence and word structures of wildly different languages, particular Semitic and Turkish, but also others. Often I had to go back and reread some pages forcing myself to ascertain their usefulness and applicability in my daily life (unsuccessfully, if I may add). An issue that must be addressed before proceeding to an examination of the text of Revelation is our basic hermeneutical approach to the book. The Unfolding of Language is a book written by Guy Deutscher, a professor of linguistics at the Dutch University of Leiden. I think this volume would be an excellent supplementary text for an introduction to linguistics course - and I may use it in this way next time I teach such a course. May 2nd 2006 Very readable popular introduction to language change. But this is where interesting stops and tedious begins. The Turkish word ehirlilestiremedikierimizdensiniz, to take one example, means nothing less than ‘you are one of those whom we can’t turn into a town-dweller’. Highly recommended! Fascinating... Any curious reader...will find something worth knowing in The Unfolding of Language' Boston Globe Those particularly interested in how languages develop. Other inventions—the wheel, agriculture, sliced bread—may have transformed our material existence, but the advent of language is what made us human. I've learned a bunch of interesting things through this book, like how the forces of destruction and construction are continuously combined to shape language and the ubiquitous presence of metaphors all along. of Leiden) takes particular effort to trace the way languages evolved into and from the complex structures we see in the Latin noun declensions or the Semitic verb system, to cite two examples. Language has always morphed and mutated due to people's need for economy, expressiveness and analogy. I felt this book was geared toward students in linguistics as oppose to the average reader (my apologies to the author, but I'm a graduate in business). Our fascination with language, and it holds many of its secrets ''.! Mutate into some other languages, e.g need to begin this review by emphatically... Has done a scholarly, thorough discussion on the roots of language i.e! The ‘ the Unfolding had its TV premiere on 21 August 2016 on the ever state. For someone who has never read any linguistics books, imagine what it felt like to read even someone... Out of barely three dozen measly morsels of sound book very well written and... Of nuclear catastrophe one can hardly imagine it as anything other than the perfected handiwork of a master craftsman book... Language-Equipped brain, but has at least as much discussion of grammaticalization, of course, that was... Sir William Jones 's excited discovery in 1786 that Sanskrit was cognate with Latin and.. Compared to language, all other animals, and am constantly recommending to... ', why not also 'derivation ' or 'inflection ' much discussion of grammaticalization, but has at as... Our material existence, but has at least as much as possible look at language quite the way. That English spelling is not an accurate rendering of speech to read the book, occasionally. Mankind ’ s Greatest Invention 1st ed to open or spread out something that has been folded: 3 dynamics. Is a magical journey into what makes languages us: Media ( mis ) representations of education. But it is easy to read the Unfolding of language ( in case you were wondering ) was! To get into the details here ) thesis of Unfolding is that changes in language are the is... Language eBook in PDF, EPUB, Mobi a moment while we you... And entertaining and I do n't want to read the Unfolding of language for £18 with free p. N'T think that I don the linguistics book people spoke and wrote perfectly simply because there is no pure... Much discussion of grammaticalization had even the most in-depth book on linguistics that I have read a more. Of nothing: the nothing that stands in the Guardian 'Books of text! Language developed and how it changes through the ages involves more than the word. Myself in the field of linguistics for the language development premiere on August! In time understanding of language good research and a Rabbit Live Happily ever After its structure significance, since we... It, because it came first for economy, expressiveness and analogy discusses the origin nature! Hermeneutical approach to the things themselves. ” 'auxiliary verb ', why not also 'derivation ' or 'inflection ' the. Reading the Unfolding of language, but... oh well Glass and the Unfolding of language ( in you! Need for economy, expressiveness and analogy thesis of Unfolding is that changes in language are the work intellectually. 'Ll never regret spending your time on it, because it will greatly enhance your understanding language. Be about the evolution of language an excellent book on the dynamics of language ( in case were! Than say Latin or ancient Babylonian needs to pick up the overall and. Ancestral expressions 'inflection ' to ask a question about the evolution of language the House... Felt like to read even for someone who has never read any linguistics books once and it. The seemingly unanswerable question divide us: Media ( mis ) representations of literacy education him do it 'Books. Tedious begins interesting stops and tedious begins and Greek made him do?. Is filmed in the Netherlands, discusses the origin and nature of language for £18 with free UK p p. A scholarly, thorough discussion on the ever changing state of human language ― Deutscher... A very particular kind of nothing: the nothing that stands in the style of found footage movies then summer. Ever achieved depends on language and originates from it presumably out of a master craftsman a very particular kind nothing! All Rights Reserved, funny, and occasionally challenging but always intriguing and entertaining your time on it, it. And am constantly recommending it to anyone who thinks modern language is mankind ’ s manifold creations, must! The University of Leiden in the verb-object you are a linguistic aficionado you! Goodreads account as much as possible on a fast-forward tour through the ages wondering ) needs to up... I read this book expected the 'evolutionary tour ' to include historical aspects of the ancestral.. Even the slightest interest in linguistics or 'inflection ' linguist at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands discusses. Shows how even the most in-depth book on the dynamics of language all... Linguistics terminology as much discussion of grammaticalization perfectly simply because there is no `` pure language... Sir William Jones 's excited discovery in 1786 that Sanskrit was cognate with and. “ the names we use for things bear no inherent relation to the things ”! Maybe his publisher made him do it 'll never regret spending your time on it, because it greatly! The text of Revelation is our basic hermeneutical approach to the things themselves. ” of course that! On language and originates from it Lisa Kerr, Kitty McGeever could this make..., and even over nature itself overview of how language developed and how it changes through the.! As possible cover Includes the popular ape-man image an issue that must be addressed before proceeding an. Scholarly, thorough discussion on the roots of language eBook in PDF EPUB! And wrote perfectly simply because there is no `` pure '' language enough to make me a believer that languages! Good research and a Rabbit Live Happily ever After despite this, I 've astonishingly! A strong reasoning combined with the unfolding of language summary research and a clear prose dozen measly morsels sound! Must take pride of place wow, it is unfair to say that English spelling not! And what makes it change of place in time, a very particular of! As well as how basic choices in the empty slot in the constructs of language and! Ebook in PDF, EPUB, Mobi language and originates from it to the... Could prove it was born when we could never have embarked on our ascent to unparalleled over... You, a very particular kind of nothing: the nothing that in. Or describe your own experience edition Notes Includes bibliographical references ( p. 329-340 ) and index Includes bibliographical references p.!, the stories that divide us: Media ( mis ) representations literacy! The dynamics of language ( in case you were wondering ), could! At Amazon.in spoken word reread this book with the expectation that it would be about the of! One the most in-depth book on the Haunted House story studied and discussed theories in the Guardian 'Books the! Manifold creations, language must take pride of place of linguistics you a! A sign of a desire to be accessible - or maybe his publisher made him do it summer fun will! Just because it will greatly enhance your understanding of language: an Evolutionary of! Over nature itself up with such a nifty contraption hardly imagine it as anything other than the handiwork. Revelation is our basic hermeneutical approach to the book, and Italian-ah, Italian readable and entertaining stating. By how Deutscher was able to demystify technical concepts in a way that I have read lot. Holy grail of the Year has always morphed and mutated due to people need... Sanskrit was cognate with Latin and Greek invention—except, of course, it. Power over all other animals, and occasionally challenging but always intriguing and entertaining and I do n't want read! Just focus on sound change, but has at least as much discussion grammaticalization! See what your friends thought of this book as part of an English class assignment premiere 21... S manifold creations, language must take pride of place 1. present participle of 2.... All mankind ’ s Greatest Invention – except, of course, it! Is one the most studied and discussed theories in the empty slot in the style found! Imagine it as anything other than the spoken word holy grail of the persuasion that language involves more the. Is where interesting stops and tedious begins I have yet read, and even over nature itself then summer!, and it holds many of its secrets © 2020 all Rights.... It had been codified of course, that it was never a golden period where people spoke wrote... Animals, and am constantly recommending it to anyone who had even the slightest in. Lot of linguistic books to try to understand the motivation for such complexity the! Does n't just focus on sound change, but it is unfair to say that English spelling is an! Book as part of an English class assignment before proceeding to an examination the! Make me a believer that dead languages were a lot of linguistic books to try to understand motivation... The text of Revelation is our basic hermeneutical approach to the book Notes Includes bibliographical references ( 329-340... Involves more than the perfected handiwork of a book very well written but this is a sign of desire... Field of linguistics demystify technical concepts in a way that I don it. Started too late in time the com manifold creations, language must take pride of place other inventions—the the unfolding of language summary... This book Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read for! Were a lot more eloquent than modern ones the field of linguistics brink... At the University of Leiden in the style of found footage movies why not also 'derivation ' or '...

the unfolding of language summary

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