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87 reviews
July 15,2025
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It's too much for me. Unfortunately, I don't have the basics to understand it. I have to start from a lower level.

This situation can be quite frustrating. But I know that in order to progress, I need to be patient and willing to put in the effort.

Maybe I should seek additional resources or ask for help from those who are more knowledgeable.

I believe that with time and practice, I will gradually improve and be able to handle more advanced concepts.

It's important to remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and this is just the beginning of my learning journey.

I will keep a positive attitude and not give up easily.

July 15,2025
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Nice to read Chomsky on a subject other than power and politics.

Really, it's quite refreshing.

I had to read this after reading Jaynes and getting a feel for the evolution of consciousness and the role language and symbolic language plays in that.

It's good to see variations on these themes.

Chomsky's perspective on this particular subject offers a new and interesting angle.

His ideas add depth and complexity to the ongoing discussion about the evolution of consciousness and the significance of language.

By exploring different aspects of this topic, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how our minds have developed over time.

Overall, it's a valuable read that challenges our thinking and encourages us to consider new possibilities.

It makes us realize that there is still so much to learn and discover about the mysteries of consciousness and language.

Hopefully, further research in this area will continue to shed light on these fascinating topics.
July 15,2025
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One of the charming features of Chomsky's book is its brevity. He doesn't try to convince the reader by any means. In this book, Chomsky refers to the limitations of human knowledge. Science, in his view, is not reductionist but a unified construct. The history of science shows that if we were to proceed with reductionism, we might not reach great discoveries. The second part of the book is also a dialogue between Chomsky and several scientists. Chomsky's modesty in dealing with difficult scientific issues such as the human mind is fascinating. In this regard, there is a difference compared to Licklider, who speaks very confidently about neurons and cognition.

Chomsky's ideas challenge the traditional view of science and offer a new perspective. His work has had a significant impact on various fields, including linguistics, psychology, and philosophy. By highlighting the limitations of human knowledge, he encourages us to think more deeply about the nature of science and our place in it.

Overall, Chomsky's book is a thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights into the world of science and human understanding. It is a must-read for anyone interested in these topics.
July 15,2025
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**Title: Chomsky's Linguistics and the Problem of Language Acquisition**

Language acquisition is a complex and fascinating topic that has intrigued psychologists and linguists for centuries. The classical problem of psychology, accounting for human knowledge, is particularly relevant when considering language. The disparity between the generative grammar that represents a native speaker's linguistic competence and the limited data on which they construct this grammar is truly remarkable.




... if we contemplate the classical problem of psychology, that of accounting for human knowledge, we cannot avoid being struck by the enormous disparity between knowledge and experience - in the case of language, between the generative grammar that expresses the linguistic competence of the native speaker and the meagre and degenerate data on the basis of which he has constructed this grammar for himself.


This problem is what drives Chomsky's work in linguistics. In the 1950s, when he began his research, behaviorism was the dominant approach in psychological research. However, Chomsky objected to behaviorism on two main grounds. Firstly, extending stimulus/response models to the creative and unbounded use of language is highly implausible. Secondly, behaviorism limits itself to describing behavior rather than explaining it, especially when it comes to language acquisition.


Although mid-century stimulus/response theories of language acquisition have been largely abandoned, new versions of tabula rasa theories based on probabilistic models have emerged. However, these also suffer from the same problem: the limited and often corrupt data available to the language learner cannot adequately explain the rapid acquisition of linguistic competence.


In Chomsky's view, the only way to account for the rapid and accurate development of language competence is through an innate human capacity for language. This capacity, known as Universal Grammar (UG), limits the range of possible grammars and involves a set of rules governing deep structure and transformations between deep and surface structure.


Chomsky formulates language as a two-way mapping from semantics to phonetics, with four components: phonological, surface structure, deep structure, and semantics. The immediate task of linguistics, according to Chomsky, is to develop models of each of these components and discover the transformation rules that explain the known properties of human language.


When reading Chomsky's work on UG, it is important to keep in mind certain distinctions. Firstly, the distinction between competence and performance. His work focuses on the logical structure of language and provides insights into language competence, but should not be confused with language performance. Secondly, the distinction between the logical model representing UG and the structures in the brain that give rise to UG. Chomsky's work has been primarily concerned with UG as a function of "mind" rather than "brain".


Language and Mind is a collection of talks and essays that cover these topics in detail. It includes both introductory and technical discussions, as well as refutations of some of Chomsky's critics. For a more technical treatment, Aspects of the Theory of Syntax is also a good starting point, although it focuses solely on transformational/generative grammars.

July 15,2025
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Chomsky is a renowned linguist and political activist who has made significant contributions to the fields of linguistics and social thought. His ideas and theories have had a profound impact on the way we understand language and its relationship to society.


Chomsky's work has been widely discussed and debated, and he has been a vocal critic of various political and social issues. He has written numerous books and articles, and his ideas have inspired generations of scholars and activists.


In recent years, Chomsky has continued to be actively involved in political and social activism, speaking out against war, inequality, and injustice. His views are often controversial, but they have also helped to raise awareness about important issues and to stimulate public debate.


Overall, Chomsky's work and activism have had a significant impact on our understanding of language, society, and politics. His ideas continue to be relevant and influential, and he remains an important figure in the intellectual and political landscape.
July 15,2025
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I didn't really learn anything that I didn't already know. Granted, I read half of this book for class last semester.

It seems that there is an excessive amount of repetition. For example, the first 20 pages of the last chapter are literally copy-pasted from previous chapters.

Moreover, it feels like half the time the author is simply asserting that everyone else is wrong and he is right.

However, at least now I can say that I have read something by Chomsky.

Despite the drawbacks I mentioned, there might still be some value in this book. Maybe I overlooked some important points due to my prior knowledge. Or perhaps the repetition was intended to emphasize certain key concepts.

Nevertheless, I hope that future works by Chomsky will be more original and less repetitive. It would be great to see him present new and innovative ideas without relying so much on restating the same things.

Overall, my experience with this book has been a bit mixed. While I appreciate the opportunity to read Chomsky's work, I also think there is room for improvement.
July 15,2025
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The surprising thing about reading Chomsky is truly astonishing.

Considering that he is widely regarded as one of the world's leading intellectuals and one of the greatest experts on human language that has ever existed, it is quite unexpected to find that his own writing contains a rather significant amount of unnecessary padding.

It is truly remarkable that this excessive and unneeded content was not edited out.

One would assume that with his status and reputation, his work would be meticulously refined and free from such superfluous elements.

However, this aspect of his writing serves as a reminder that even the most highly regarded figures may have areas that could benefit from further polishing and refinement.

Despite this, Chomsky's contributions to the field of linguistics and his intellectual influence remain undeniable.

Nevertheless, the presence of this unnecessary padding in his writing is an interesting and somewhat unexpected aspect that adds a layer of complexity to our understanding of his work.

July 15,2025
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Feel like a rating is sort of pointless for this book? Probably all books?

This book is truly very interesting as it begins to explore the possibilities of perception, which is a topic that deeply concerns me. I now realize that I'm going to have to branch out into his earlier writing such as "Structures", "Aspects", and "Cartesian Linguistics" before coming back to this one. It has affirmed a lot of what I believe to be true about the human mind and its relationship with art, yet not in any overly concrete manner.

To truly delve into this, I'll also have to engage with some more concrete writing on aesthetics, analytic philosophy, and classical rationalism. In any case, I'm glad that this book is leading me away from Locke.

I'm not entirely sure if I fully understood everything on a first read, but it's clear that all of the points made and questions raised have significant relevance in the arts, politics, and our general consumption of culture. It makes me eager to explore further and gain a more comprehensive understanding of these complex and fascinating ideas.

July 15,2025
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I've read it before.

However, after reading Stephen Pinker's THE STUFF OF THOUGHT, I decided to read it again.

If you're a Minimalist Syntax person, just like me, then this is Chomsky at his most eloquent.

Moreover, it is not nearly as dense as his MINIMALIST PROGRAM.

This work presents Chomsky's ideas in a more accessible and engaging way.

It allows readers to better understand the concepts and theories related to Minimalist Syntax.

The clear and concise writing style makes it easier to follow Chomsky's arguments.

Overall, it is a valuable read for anyone interested in linguistics and the study of language.

Whether you're a beginner or an advanced scholar, this work has something to offer.

It provides insights into the nature of language and the role of syntax in communication.

So, if you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try.
July 15,2025
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Surprisingly dry, except for the odd ad hominem.

The content gets repetitive across chapters, with an abundance of jargon. For example, the concept of Merge suddenly pops up on the last two pages.

Rather than advancing Chomsky's argument, this collection of writings seems to weaken it. It does so by highlighting precisely how unspecified and unknown the principles of a universal grammar are.

One might have expected a more in-depth exploration and clarification of these principles. Instead, the repetitiveness and the late introduction of key concepts leave the reader with a sense of dissatisfaction. The use of jargon further alienates the non-specialist reader, making it difficult to fully engage with the material.

Overall, while the topic of universal grammar is of great interest, this particular collection of writings fails to do justice to it. It could have been improved with a more organized structure, less repetition, and a more accessible explanation of the jargon.

Perhaps a future edition could address these issues and provide a more comprehensive and engaging treatment of Chomsky's ideas.
July 15,2025
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I came across the false and truly horrible translation by Kourosh Safavi.

It is completely different from what "Language and Mind" is supposed to be. The original work is meant to be a collection of 6 lectures by Noam Chomsky. However, what Safavi has translated is actually the transcription of a round-table discussion of Noam Chomsky at MIT.

This is extremely disappointing as I was really looking forward to reading the actual lectures. I had high expectations of delving into the profound ideas and theories presented in those lectures.

Now, I feel misled and cheated by this incorrect translation. I hope that in the future, a more accurate and faithful translation of "Language and Mind" will be available so that I can finally read the lectures as they were originally intended.
July 15,2025
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Dil ve Zehin en başta, çeviri yapılan dili bilmeyen okucular için yapıldı.

Örnekler olduğu gibi bırakıldı...

Dil, insan zihninin aynasıdır...

Noam Chomsky, ABD'nin en önde gelen muhalif simalarından birisidir...

Language and mind, in the beginning, were created for the readers who do not know the translated language.

Just like the examples, it was left as it is...

Language is the mirror of the human mind...

Noam Chomsky is one of the most prominent dissident symbols in the United States...

He has made significant contributions to the fields of linguistics and cognitive science. His theories have challenged the traditional views and opened up new perspectives for the study of language and the mind.

Chomsky's work has not only had a profound impact on the academic community but also on society as a whole. His ideas have inspired many people to think critically about language, power, and social justice.

In conclusion, language and mind are closely intertwined, and Noam Chomsky's work has played an important role in advancing our understanding of this complex relationship.
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