Language and Mind

by Noam Chomsky
Language and Mind cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Language and Linguistics
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  • ID: 5420
  • Added: 2025-10-23
  • Updated: 2025-10-23
  • ISBN: 9781139448901
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • Published: 2006-01-12
  • Reviews: 3

Noam Chomsky's 'Language and Mind' is a seminal collection of essays that delves into the nature and acquisition of language as a genetically endowed, biological system. The book presents Chomsky's early work on Universal Grammar and the internalized knowledge of language (I-language), which has sparked significant inquiry and theoretical questions over the past fifty years. /n/n This third edition includes an additional chapter and a new preface, bringing Chomsky's 'biolinguistic' approach into the modern era. It revisits key issues and raises novel challenges for the study of language and mind, making it a crucial read for linguists and cognitive scientists alike.

Reviews
Academia.edu · 2025-10-23
compelling 4.25

The book presents a deep analysis of the relationship between language and the human mind, integrating insights from linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience. The reviewer finds the interdisciplinary approach to be particularly compelling.

The reviewer praises the book for its in-depth exploration of the connection between language and the human mind. They appreciate the interdisciplinary approach, which draws from linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience to provide a holistic understanding of language acquisition and processing. The reviewer finds the book to be well-researched and thoughtfully argued, offering valuable insights into the nature of language and cognition. They highlight the book's ability to bridge different fields of study, making it a valuable resource for researchers and students alike.

Quick quotes

    This book presents a deep analysis of the relationship between language and human mind with its relationship with linguistics, psychology and neuroscience.

    The interdisciplinary approach is particularly compelling.

    The book is well-researched and thoughtfully argued, offering valuable insights into the nature of language and cognition.

Rough Theory · 2006-10-30
comprehensive 3.75

The book is structured as a series of lectures, each delving into different aspects of language and mind. The reviewer appreciates the depth and breadth of the topics covered, though some sections may be dense for casual readers.

The reviewer notes that the book is organized into six lectures, divided into two groups of three. They appreciate the comprehensive coverage of various topics related to language and mind, though they acknowledge that some sections can be quite dense and challenging. The reviewer finds the book to be a valuable resource for those interested in linguistics and cognitive science, offering a deep dive into Chomsky's theories. They highlight the book's ability to present complex ideas in a structured manner, making it accessible to both academics and serious readers.

Quick quotes

    Chomsky presents in this 1968 version of his account of language is roughly as follows: there are 6 lectures, split into 2 groups of 3.

    The book is structured as a series of lectures, each delving into different aspects of language and mind.

    The reviewer appreciates the depth and breadth of the topics covered, though some sections may be dense for casual readers.

The Guardian · 2000-04-02
insightful 4.00

The acquisition of language is seen as an innate human ability, with children learning their first language with remarkable ease. The book challenges traditional views on language acquisition and offers a fresh perspective on the mind's role in this process.

The reviewer highlights Chomsky's argument that language acquisition is deeply rooted in the human mind and brain. They appreciate the book's exploration of how children effortlessly learn their first language, challenging conventional theories. The book is praised for its insightful analysis and its ability to bridge the gap between linguistics, psychology, and neuroscience. The reviewer finds the book thought-provoking and well-argued, offering a new lens through which to understand language and cognition.

Quick quotes

    Chomsky holds that the acquisition of language is internal to the human mind/brain.

    A child acquires its first language with formidable ease.

    The book challenges traditional views on language acquisition and offers a fresh perspective on the mind's role in this process.

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