Language, Thought, and Logic (Rethinking Theory)

By John M. Ellis

Book Overview

In this work, the author explores the impasse and confusion in the theory of language, to develop a new view. Supporting his arguments with criticisms of Chomsky and demonstrations of common misreadings of Saussure and Whorf, Ellis establishes a new general picture of linguistic theory and suggests the major implications of that picture. It makes an important contribution to the understanding of contemporary linguistics.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810111357
• ISBN13: 9780810111356
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Northwestern Univ Pr
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

an important and unjustly neglected critique

This is a major rethinking of theory of language by a professor of German literature. I have never seen it referred to in the literature, and that is a terrible, sinful omission. Ellis's identifying CATEGORIZATION as the major element of language, and subjecting this view to a very close scrutiny, deserves the attention of linguists, philosophers of language, psychologists, and mathematicians--among others. My only serious criticism is that Ellis's perspective/critique is limited by being entirely "adultocentric" (i.e., it fails to take into account very early individual development - see my The Unboundaried Self).