Why read The Language Game?

Book cover of The Language Game: How Improvisation Created Language and Changed the World

Book description

'Marvellously clear... playfully persuasive' Richard Dawkins
'Full of Fascinating details. A delight to read.' Tim Harford
'Highly original and convincing ... a delight to read!' - Daniel Everett

What is language?
Why do we have it?
Why does that matter?

Language is perhaps humanity's most astonishing accomplishment and one that…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Language Game as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Anne Janzer

Author

Reading this book changed the way I think about language.

The authors reject the usual arguments about how language evolved on their head—universal grammars and language instincts. Instead, they suggest that the evolution of language is messy and improvisational, like a long-running game of charades.

This metaphor leads to interesting insights into communications, grammar, and more. It’s thoroughly researched but never stodgy, and if you love language, you’ll be as fascinated as I was.

From Anne's 3 favorite reads in 2023.