So clearly I've been neglecting this blog (among other things,
admittedly). I have been reading, but I feel the old habits creeping back....I'm a little all over the place with my choice of books. I picked up The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker and began where I'd left off. The idea of this book is really interesting to me: Pinker discusses how we think by examining the way language affects our thoughts and vice versa. I had seen this one in the bookstore a long while back. Luckily, my fellow book-loving friend, Kim, gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago* (see footnote). I dove right in, but inevitably, got distracted by something flashier (an Antarctic tale, no doubt). But the time had come to return to Mr. Pinker and so I did. For about two chapters. :-S There are few people out there who would find this book appealing, and I would most definitely (and willingly and gladly) consider myself to be one of the them. But, and this is a big but, I had some serious issues making it through Chapter 3. Pinker, in order to contextualize and explain the theory of conceptual semantics, compares and contrasts it to three other theories related to how we store language in our minds, namely Extreme Nativism, Radical Pragmatics, and Linguistic Determinism. *snore* Now, I'm all for some hot and heavy discussions about how language is learned, used, stored in the mind, etc., but this was a bit much even for me. I powered through the chapter, thinking that he was setting the stage for the more interesting discussions, those referred to on the book jacket as "curious, inventive, fearless, naughty" (New York Times Book Review) and "engaging and provocative" (Los Angeles Times).....but fifty pages later I was still stuck in the Humes and Kants and Chomskys and .... this was when *I* started snoring. He'll get there and I'll love it - it'll be a total nerd-fest for a language-geek like me. However, for now, The Stuff of Thought has been pushed from my thoughts and stuffed back in its place on the shelf of Cheryl (with the rest of Team Language, of course).
*Thought a "foot"note was appropriate because I clearly put my foot in my mouth on this one. Kim asked not too long ago what I was reading. I started on a oh-my-goodness-this-horribly-boring-and-dry-book-about-language-by-that-guy-Pinker-I-like rant....only to pause and realize that she had, in fact, given me this book. Hopefully my sheepish look and apology undid the damage. I will add that she quickly reminded me I wanted this book and had been lusting after it for months (while awaiting the paperback copy). True, true! I did want it, I do want it, I will read it, and goshdarnit, I will enjoy it! Thanks again, Kim! =D
And now, having been re-inspired by Trish and her captivating and very entertaining blog, hot chocolate, hot date, I can focus on boring you regularly with my (unusually) interesting reads. [Notice how my modifier is *not* dangling, thank you very much!]
Up next, something quite......POLAR, of course! :-)
TTFN
PS: I'm asking myself over and over why I didn't buy the *entire* exploration/polar section at the bookstore before beginning this quest. I'll have to ration these delicious delights as I only have a few. I really need to learn how to think ahead...argh.
admittedly). I have been reading, but I feel the old habits creeping back....I'm a little all over the place with my choice of books. I picked up The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker and began where I'd left off. The idea of this book is really interesting to me: Pinker discusses how we think by examining the way language affects our thoughts and vice versa. I had seen this one in the bookstore a long while back. Luckily, my fellow book-loving friend, Kim, gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago* (see footnote). I dove right in, but inevitably, got distracted by something flashier (an Antarctic tale, no doubt). But the time had come to return to Mr. Pinker and so I did. For about two chapters. :-S There are few people out there who would find this book appealing, and I would most definitely (and willingly and gladly) consider myself to be one of the them. But, and this is a big but, I had some serious issues making it through Chapter 3. Pinker, in order to contextualize and explain the theory of conceptual semantics, compares and contrasts it to three other theories related to how we store language in our minds, namely Extreme Nativism, Radical Pragmatics, and Linguistic Determinism. *snore* Now, I'm all for some hot and heavy discussions about how language is learned, used, stored in the mind, etc., but this was a bit much even for me. I powered through the chapter, thinking that he was setting the stage for the more interesting discussions, those referred to on the book jacket as "curious, inventive, fearless, naughty" (New York Times Book Review) and "engaging and provocative" (Los Angeles Times).....but fifty pages later I was still stuck in the Humes and Kants and Chomskys and .... this was when *I* started snoring. He'll get there and I'll love it - it'll be a total nerd-fest for a language-geek like me. However, for now, The Stuff of Thought has been pushed from my thoughts and stuffed back in its place on the shelf of Cheryl (with the rest of Team Language, of course). *Thought a "foot"note was appropriate because I clearly put my foot in my mouth on this one. Kim asked not too long ago what I was reading. I started on a oh-my-goodness-this-horribly-boring-and-dry-book-about-language-by-that-guy-Pinker-I-like rant....only to pause and realize that she had, in fact, given me this book. Hopefully my sheepish look and apology undid the damage. I will add that she quickly reminded me I wanted this book and had been lusting after it for months (while awaiting the paperback copy). True, true! I did want it, I do want it, I will read it, and goshdarnit, I will enjoy it! Thanks again, Kim! =D
And now, having been re-inspired by Trish and her captivating and very entertaining blog, hot chocolate, hot date, I can focus on boring you regularly with my (unusually) interesting reads. [Notice how my modifier is *not* dangling, thank you very much!]
Up next, something quite......POLAR, of course! :-)
TTFN
PS: I'm asking myself over and over why I didn't buy the *entire* exploration/polar section at the bookstore before beginning this quest. I'll have to ration these delicious delights as I only have a few. I really need to learn how to think ahead...argh.
hmmm, always a disappointment when language books fail us! good thing there are others. looking forward to the next read -- i mean, your read of the next shelved book, and my read of your next blog entry!
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