Language vs. Reality (Hardcover)
Language: English
Published by MIT Press Ltd, 2022
- Hardcover
- New
Seller: AussieBookSeller, Truganina, VIC, AustraliaAussieBookSeller
AbeBooks seller since June 22, 2007
Condition: New
£ 43.86
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Add to basketItem description from seller
Hardcover. A fascinating examination of how we are both played by language and made by language- the science underlying the bugs and features of humankind's greatest invention.A fascinating examination of how we are both played by language and made by language- the science underlying the bugs and features of humankind's greatest invention.Language is said to be humankind's greatest accomplishment. But what is language actually good for? It performs poorly at representing reality. It is a constant source of distraction, misdirection, and overshadowing. In fact, N. J. Enfield notes, language is far better at persuasion than it is at objectively capturing the facts of experience. Language cannot create or change physical reality, but it can do the next best thing- reframe and invert our view of the world. In Language vs. Reality, Enfield explains why language is bad for scientists (who are bound by reality) but good for lawyers (who want to win their cases), why it can be dangerous when it falls into the wrong hands, and why it deserves our deepest respect.Enfield offers a lively exploration of the science underlying the bugs and features of language. He examines the tenuous relationship between language and reality; details the array of effects language has on our memory, attention, and reasoning; and describes how these varied effects power narratives and storytelling as well as political spin and conspiracy theories. Why should we care what language is good for? Enfield, who has spent twenty years at the cutting edge of language research, argues that understanding how language works is crucial to tackling our most pressing challenges, including human cognitive bias, media spin, the "post-truth" problem, persuasion, the role of words in our thinking, and much more. "Argues that the primary function of language is not to describe the physical world but to manage the social one. Aimed at a general readership"-- Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.…
Seller Inventory # 9780262046619
- Title
- Language vs. Reality (Hardcover)
- Author
- N.J. Enfield
- Publisher
- MIT Press Ltd
- Publication year
- 2022
- Condition
- new
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 026204661X
- ISBN 13
- 9780262046619
Language is said to be humankinds greatest accomplishment. But what is language actually good for? It performs poorly at representing reality. It is a constant source of distraction, misdirection, and overshadowing. In fact, N. J. Enfield notes, language is far better at persuasion than it is at objectively capturing the facts of experience. Language cannot create or change physical reality, but it can do the next best thing: reframe and invert our view of the world. In Language vs. Reality, Enfield explains why language is bad for scientists (who are bound by reality) but good for lawyers (who want to win their cases), why it can be dangerous when it falls into the wrong hands, and why it deserves our deepest respect.
Enfield offers a lively exploration of the science underlying the bugs and features of language. He examines the tenuous relationship between language and reality; details the array of effects language has on our memory, attention, and reasoning; and describes how these varied effects power narratives and storytelling as well as political spin and conspiracy theories. Why should we care what language is good for? Enfield, who has spent twenty years at the cutting edge of language research, argues that understanding how language works is crucial to tackling our most pressing challenges, including human cognitive bias, media spin, the post-truth problem, persuasion, the role of words in our thinking, and much more.
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AussieBookSeller
Truganina, VIC, Australia
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