LINGUIST List 11.2525

Thu Nov 23 2000

Books: General Linguistics

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Coleman, Sarah, General Linguistics: The Twitter Machine by N. Smith

		
The Twitter Machine
		
Author
Neil Smith, University College London
		
This unique book provides an introductory overview of modern theoretical
linguistics which manages to be both accessible and humorous without
sacrificing either scholarship of insight.
		
However profound or however trivial the questions we raise and try answer -
What exactly does one have to know to count as a speaker of a language?
What would it mean for a language to have no vowels? Why do little children
call lorries 'lollies'? Precisely what with this sentence is wrong? - we
need to recourse to a theory even to make them coherent. In particular, the
author argues that we can find solutions to our puzzles, and explanations
for these phenomena, if we exploit on the one hand Chomsky's theory of
Generative Grammar, and on the other Sperber and Wilson's theory of
Relevance.
		
The Twitter Machine has been out of print, but is now again available
through Blackwell Publishers exciting new print-on-demand service. Go to
amazon.com or bn.com to order.
		
1989/275 pp./0631169261/PB/List: $26.95