Those who know me are well aware of how I truly feel about Chomsky. His ideas and theories have had a profound impact on my intellectual journey. However, as my master's degree is almost coming to an end, there is a sense of both excitement and a tinge of melancholy. The years of intense study and exploration have been filled with challenges and growth. I have delved deep into various academic disciplines, constantly striving to expand my knowledge and understanding. But now, with the finish line in sight, I find myself reflecting on all that I have accomplished and all that lies ahead. The future holds both opportunities and uncertainties, but I am ready to embrace whatever comes my way. Hey ho, here's to the next chapter of my life!

**Title: The Mysterious Nature of Language and Human Intelligence**

Darwin's rhetorical question about why thought should be considered more wonderful than gravity highlights the complexity of human intelligence. Normal human intelligence can acquire knowledge through internal resources, using sense data to construct a cognitive system based on independent concepts and principles. It can also generate new thoughts and express them in novel ways, transcending training and experience.

Descartes correctly observed that language is a species-specific human possession. Even at low or pathological levels of intelligence, humans have a command of language that apes cannot attain, despite the latter's problem-solving abilities in other respects.

A person's knowledge of language is often seen as a set of stored patterns, overlearned through repetition and training, with innovation being at most a matter of analogy. However, we are still far from understanding what enables humans to speak in an innovative, free, appropriate, and coherent way.

In fact, sentence formation is not strictly a matter of langue but rather belongs to parole, outside the scope of linguistics proper. It is a process of free creation, constrained only by the rules governing word forms and sound patterns.

Accordingly, knowledge of language develops slowly through repetition and training, its complexity resulting from the proliferation of simple elements rather than deeper principles of mental organization. The person who has acquired knowledge of a language has internalized a system of rules relating sound and meaning.

Linguistics, thus characterized, is a subfield of psychology dealing with these aspects of the mind. Knowledge of a language involves the ability to assign deep and surface structures to an infinite range of sentences, relate them appropriately, and assign semantic and phonetic interpretations.

It is clear that the surface structure of language can be misleading and uninformative, and our knowledge of language involves more abstract properties not directly indicated in the surface structure.

We live in the age of "behavioral science," yet anyone studying human nature and capacities must come to terms with the fact that all normal humans acquire language, while even the most intelligent ape cannot acquire its rudiments. This was emphasized in Cartesian philosophy, leading to the rationalist view that language develops from within in a predetermined way when the appropriate environmental conditions exist.

The study of language is both fascinating and frustrating. Despite progress, we still struggle to understand the core problem of human language: the ability to understand and produce new expressions that are novel, independent of stimulus configurations, and understandable by others who share this mysterious ability.

Finally, it is a fact that there is no human language in which it is possible to specify the longest meaningful sentence, and the grammar of a language must allow for infinite use of finite means, as Hume and Darwin remarked.

Noam Chomsky's approach to linguistics is truly unique. What sets it apart is that it delves deep into the very first roots of language formations within its initial structure, something that all languages in the world have in common.

Language is seen as a genetically endowed biological system, much like what the biologist Richard Dawkins described in his book "The Selfish Gene" through the concept of the transmission of the cultural and linguistic aspect via what he termed "memes", which are analogous to "genes". This is considered in terms of phonemic, semantic, and grammatical foundations.

Noam, who perceived language as a mental faculty in the human brain that developed through biological processes originally influenced by human adaptations to the environment, his research remains the cornerstone for contemporary linguistic studies and research that seek to uncover the relationship between language in its cultural manifestation and the brain as a physical entity. His work has had a profound impact on the field of linguistics and continues to shape our understanding of language and its connection to the human mind and body.

Hæfilega tyrfið fyrir einhvern sem hefur enga fyrirframþekkingu á málvísindum. It can be quite a challenge for someone who has no prior knowledge of linguistics. However, I am up for finding an entrance to Chomsky.

Noam Chomsky is a renowned figure in the field of linguistics. His theories and ideas have had a significant impact on the way we understand language. To approach his work, one needs to have an open mind and a willingness to learn.

Perhaps starting with some of his basic concepts and gradually delving deeper into his more complex theories would be a good way to begin. Reading his books and papers, attending lectures and discussions, and engaging with other scholars in the field can all help in gaining a better understanding of Chomsky's work.

Although it may seem daunting at first, with perseverance and dedication, one can surely find their way into the fascinating world of Chomsky's linguistics.

The book truly does an astonishing job. It takes just a few needles and exerts its utmost effort in hauling around huge hay stacks. Moreover, as texts from approximately 50 years ago nearly fill the entire book, the needles are already somewhat rusty and a little dull.

Six of the essays, those so-called 'golden' oldies, are merely a collection of rather simple ideas (albeit perhaps not so self-evident in the linguistics of that era), inundated with a deluge of scarcely structured, uninformative, and philosophical meanderings. Many of the ideas put forth were good and have been beneficial for linguistics, while some were rubbish. (The notion that historical phonetic changes are somehow assumed by the speaker when choosing the phonological content of a morpheme for a specific task is a particularly preposterous one.)

The last essay, the more recent one, is fine and interesting, but disappointingly short. By far, it is not substantial enough to salvage the rest of the book.

I am awarding three stars because I recognize the impact of the ideas presented. However, the reading experience was far from pleasant. I have no idea why anyone would read this except for historical interest, especially considering there are better-written and more up-to-date books on the subject.

This work is extremely technical in nature.

It seems more like a compilation of various papers and lectures rather than a traditional, fully-fledged book.

One noticeable aspect is that at times, several paragraphs are rehashed verbatim between different chapters.

This repetition can make the reading experience a bit monotonous and may give the impression that the author didn't put in enough effort to present a more original and diverse content.

However, it should be noted that the technical details provided within the work are likely to be of great value to those with a specific interest in the subject matter.

Nevertheless, to truly enhance its quality and appeal, some improvements in terms of organization and avoiding unnecessary repetition could be made.

Overall, while it has its merits in terms of technical information, it falls short in certain aspects that could have made it a more engaging and impactful read.

This was an outstanding introduction to Chomsky and his theories.

It proved to be extremely interesting for individuals who have an interest in both linguistics and the fundamental concepts of neuropsychology.

The text presented a comprehensive overview, delving into the various aspects of Chomsky's work.

It explored his ideas on language acquisition, universal grammar, and the relationship between language and the mind.

For those unfamiliar with these concepts, it provided a clear and accessible explanation.

The connection between linguistics and neuropsychology was also well-explained, highlighting the importance of understanding the brain's role in language processing.

Overall, it was a great read that offered valuable insights into an important area of study.

Whether you are a student of linguistics, neuropsychology, or simply someone with a general interest in these fields, this article is definitely worth reading.

I didn't read the book.

However, I came across two interesting links. The first one is http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/langua.... The second link is http://www.nybooks.com/articles/1643.

It seems that Chomsky uses the innate humanity of the human brain as an argument against Darwin. He believes there is a metaphysical distinction between humans and animals. This view challenges the traditional understanding of evolution.

Maybe by reading the book and exploring these links further, we can gain a better understanding of this debate and the complex relationship between language, mind, and evolution.

Outdated, unscientific, and frequently just plain wrong.

This description aptly characterizes certain ideas or theories that once held sway but have since been thoroughly discredited. They served as a fantastic base for hypotheses that were later subjected to empirical testing. However, the results of those tests have shown them to be false.

These outdated notions may have seemed plausible at one time, perhaps due to limited knowledge or faulty reasoning. But as scientific understanding has advanced and more rigorous methods of investigation have been developed, their flaws have become glaringly obvious.

It is important to recognize the fallibility of such ideas and to continuously question and test our assumptions. By doing so, we can avoid being misled by false beliefs and continue to make progress in our pursuit of knowledge and truth.

I could hardly understand it, so I had to read it with my dad. And after that, I understood it. I liked it so much that I asked to make a poster of Mr. Chomsky and I pasted it on the door of my closet.

Mr. Chomsky's work really intrigued me. His ideas were so profound and thought-provoking. Reading it with my dad was a great learning experience. We discussed and analyzed each point together.

The process of making the poster was also quite fun. I carefully selected the image of Mr. Chomsky and added some of his most famous quotes. When I finally pasted it on the closet door, it felt like a personal tribute to this great thinker.

Now, every time I open my closet, I see the poster and it reminds me of the interesting things I learned from Mr. Chomsky's work. It has become a source of inspiration for me.

In the name of Allah

From the translator's introduction:

"Language and Thought is a written discussion that took place in 1993 in a symposium attended by Noam Chomsky, a professor of linguistics and philosophy at Columbia University, George Miller, a professor of psychology at Princeton University, and James Schwartz, a professor of neuroscience at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons."

The format of the book is that first Chomsky presents his views and opinions, then each of the professors speaks on this topic, and finally Chomsky, in response to them and in summary of his own words, presents some considerations.

But what exactly is the subject of the book or Chomsky's speech?

Perhaps the title of the book is a bit misleading, and you might think it's about something in the field of thought and linguistics, but you're wrong :).

In short, I'll sum it up and not spin a web for you. In this book, you will become acquainted with Chomsky's perspective in the field of scientific knowledge. I think you should know a bit of the history and philosophy of science. Concepts and expressions such as "reductionism", "mechanistic philosophy", "behaviorism", "Turing test", and "Chinese room" should not be unfamiliar to you in order to establish a connection with the book.

Of course, perhaps establishing a connection with the initial part of the book (perhaps due to unfamiliarity with the translation) is still difficult.

In general, this book is not for literature lovers and linguistics enthusiasts :).

But if you want to know what kind of perspective Chomsky has on the concept of language in the world of artificial intelligence and scientific knowledge, it will be interesting for you.

+ I don't know if Chomsky still thinks this way or not, but I, who agree with his perspective :))))

Perhaps if I read more about Chomsky and his ideas, I will change this text.

For now, that's it.

From the text of the book:

"I also want to take my turn to thank the participants in this symposium, especially Noam Chomsky and Charles Riskamp, and remind that during this, no attention was paid to the poets, although Professor Chomsky, in an allusive way, pointed out this fact that they, that is, the poets, are probably a remarkable example of the code and mystery of the creativity of the mind / brain / soul, and even thought, ethics, sense, wisdom, and language."

This is a rather concise book that is founded upon a lecture delivered by Chomsky and subsequent commentaries from a philosopher (Akeel Bilgrami), a neurobiologist (James Schwartz), and a cognitive psychologist (George Miller). Given this diverse panel, it is evident that Chomsky's essay is quite extensive, encompassing a vast array of topics. These include Fregean semantics, computational approaches to cognition, the mind-body problem, unification prospects in the sciences, and the limits of understanding.

What is most remarkable about Chomsky is his unrivaled philosophical rigor and his independence of thought. For instance, he is not hesitant to reject entire philosophical traditions (if not entire branches of philosophy). In his view, mainstream philosophy of mind and language is completely misdirected. The former persists with a Cartesian mind-body problem that has no place in a serious investigation of the nature of the world. Meanwhile, the latter poses questions and introduces concepts that are entirely foreign to the empirical study of language. Consequently, if Chomsky is correct, a significant portion of contemporary philosophy must be abandoned! Surprisingly, his critiques are incredibly incisive and convincing.

Overall, this book offers a good overview of Chomsky's philosophical perspectives. Bilgrami's discussion is also quite engaging, particularly his reflection on Chomskian, internalist semantics. However, for anyone desiring a more comprehensive and detailed exploration of these topics, I would recommend Chomsky's 'New Horizons in the Study of Language and Mind'.