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The Concept of Language (Noam Chomsky)

UW Video · 2.1M views · 2014-03-13 · 27:44

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Overview

Noam Chomsky talks with the University of Washington's Upon Reflection about how languages change over time, why a national language is a modern idea, and how language is a system of communication rooted in human nature.

On Hacker News

Recommended in threads on language purity and standardization for its clear take that languages are fluid and that national languages are constructed.

Recommended by 3 HN people across 3 months · HN mentions 2021–2024

Topics

Language & linguisticsPhilosophy & ethics
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noam chomskylanguage changenational languagenation statephilosophy of language

What people said

surfpel · 2023-12 · Strong recommendation

"Learning" is also a noun [1] - which can be plural, so I'd say the creator of those comments has some learnings to make. More generally, though, being a grammar nazi is silly. Dictionaries are defined by the common use of language and language is quite flexible, evolving, unique to individuals, and even used to be much more geographically continuous than it is today.[2] 1 - [LINK] 2 - Here's my favorite talk on the subject given by Chomsky, highly recommend a listen (especially to the poster of those dead comments): [VIDEO]

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jcul · 2024-06 · Recommendation

I love this old interview. If you skip to the very last question at 26:50, it is a little bit poignant, considering this news. [VIDEO]

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random314 · 2022-05 · Recommendation

Yes, the concept of nationalism and national language is a modern phenomenon. It is helpful in having subjects treat their governments as correct and moral by default and develop a distrust of their neighbors. Noam chomsky has an informative interview. He seems to think the concept of guardianship of a "pure" language is conceptually silly [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by UW Video, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

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