{"product_id":"language-vs-reality-isbn-9780262046619","title":"Language vs. Reality","description":"\u003cb\u003eA 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.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLanguage 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 \u003ci\u003eLanguage vs. Reality\u003c\/i\u003e, 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. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eEnfield 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.Preface and Acknowledgments vii\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction 1\u003cbr\u003eI Mapped by Language\u003cbr\u003e1 Coordinating around Reality 11\u003cbr\u003e2 Schelling's Game 25\u003cbr\u003e3 Language and Nature 37\u003cbr\u003eII Nudged by Language \u003cbr\u003e4 Priming and Overshadowing 63\u003cbr\u003e5 Linguistic Relativity 87\u003cbr\u003e6 Communicative Need 99\u003cbr\u003e7 Framing and Inversion 111\u003cbr\u003eIII Made by Language \u003cbr\u003e8 Russell's Conjugation and Wittgenstein's Ruler 127\u003cbr\u003e9 Stories and What They Do to Us 149\u003cbr\u003e10 Social Glue 161\u003cbr\u003e11 Sense Making 179\u003cbr\u003eConclusion 195\u003cbr\u003eNotes 203\u003cbr\u003eBibliography 263\u003cbr\u003eIndex 293“Language often doesn’t quite work, and this book is a master class in why. What we perceive is already only a part of reality, and then of what we perceive, we only communicate what is needed for interaction. This book makes the brilliant case that the result is both messy and awesome.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJohn McWhorter, Associate Professor of Linguistics, Columbia University; host of the podcast \u003ci\u003eLexicon Valley\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“In this magisterial book, Nick Enfield argues that language isn’t best used for accurately describing the world but rather as a tool for coordination. Seeing language that way makes sense of its weaknesses (how it can distort our representation of the world) and its strengths (how language allows humans to achieve amazing feats of cooperation). Splendidly written, \u003ci\u003eLanguage vs. Reality\u003c\/i\u003e uses the latest research to build a compelling argument and a deeper understanding of human language.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eHugo Mercier, researcher, Jean Nicod Institute, Paris; author of \u003ci\u003eNot Born Yesterday\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Enigma of Reaso\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cu\u003en\u003c\/u\u003e (with Dan Sperber)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“I am happy that Nick Enfield is a linguist because there are very few scientists in the world who can match him for insights into the cultural and social nature of human language. \u003ci\u003eLanguage vs. Reality\u003c\/i\u003e does not disappoint. Language and human reason evolved to serve our genus as social tools. Language is an imperfect system for communication and persuasion, not a perfect system for the expression of truth. Enfield’s conclusions are based on years of field research showing how specific languages fit their enveloping cultures. An informative, persuasive, and beautifully written book.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Daniel L. Everett, Trustee Professor of Cognitive Sciences, Bentley University; author of \u003ci\u003eHow Language Began: The Story of Humanity’s Greatest Inventio\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cu\u003en\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eN. J. Enfield is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney and Director of the Sydney Centre for Language Research and the Sydney Initiative for Truth. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eThe Anatomy of Meaning\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Utility of Meaning\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHow We Talk\u003c\/i\u003e, and other books.","brand":"The MIT Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304668680421,"sku":"NP9780262046619","price":32.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780262046619.jpg?v=1767731109","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/language-vs-reality-isbn-9780262046619","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}