,LANGUAGE1 ,?\<T1 & ,COMMUNICAT+ ,REBELLI\S ,IDEAS 

#aiii 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,AMOREY ,GE?9 

,TEXT 3 

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,UND]/&+ ! NATURE ( LANGUAGE & ?\<T1 OR AT LEA/ :AT !Y >E NOT1 IS JU/ AB\T AS IMPORTANT AS ANY UND]/&+ CAN BE4 ,BO? >E AT ! BASIS ( \R LIVES2 9 A S5SE !Y >E \R LIVES4 ,IS LANGUAGE A DI/9CT FACULTY8 ,IS IT CONTROLL$ BY P>TS ( ! BRA9 D$ICAT$ TO LANGUAGE ALONE8 ,IS HUMAN ?\<T LANGUAGE8 ,IF IT IS1 >E WE 9TELLECTUAL PRISON]S LIMIT$ TO ?9K+ :AT LANGUAGE CAN DESCRIBE1 & ALL[S US TO ?9K8 ,OR IS LANGUAGE A HUMAN 9V5TION1 A PURELY CULTURAL PH5OM5ON8 ,IS ?\<T ESS5TIALLY 9DEP5D5T ( LANGUAGE1 BUT 9 PRACTICE CRITICALLY 9FLU5C$ BY IT8 ,MU*1 POLITICALLY & SOCIALLY1 DEP5DS 9DIRECTLY ON :I* IS ! CORRECT VIEW1 & MU* DEP5DS ON ! VIEW ( L+UI/ICIANS1 NEUROSCI5TI/S & PHILOSOPH]S1 CORRECT OR NOT4 

,! OP9ION ( MO/ WRIT]S ON ! SUBJECT SEEMS TO BE ?AT LANGUAGE IS BASIC TO \R NATURE1 :E!R IT IS \R M9DS ?AT %APE LANGUAGE1 OR LANGUAGE ?AT %APES \R M9DS4 ,LANGUAGE IS SE5 AS ! FASC9AT+ KEY TO HUMAN ?\<T & ! :OLE HUMAN P]SONALITY4 ,! PHILOSOPH] ,K>L ,POPP] W5T SO F> 9 HIS REV]5CE = LANGUAGE ?AT HE APPE>$ TO CONFUSE IT ) REALITY4 ,HE ?\<T1 = 9/ANCE1 ?AT SMALL *ILDR5 ONLY BECOME AW>E ?AT !Y >E SEP>ATE FROM O!RS ?R\< LANGUAGE1 AT ! TIME !Y BEG9 TO SAY 0,I04 

,NOAM ,*OMSKY1 ! MO/ FAM\S LIV+ L+UI/ICIAN1 P]HAPS ! MO/ FAM\S L+UI/ICIAN EV]1 ?9KS ?AT ! =M ( LANGUAGE IS DET]M9$ 9ESCAPABLY BY ! =M ( ! M9D4 ,MO/ ( HIS ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES SEEM TO DO LITTLE BUT DEVISE OR DEVELOP B>R5 SY/EMS ( L+UI/IC ANALYSIS M]ELY = ! SAKE ( ANALYSIS4 ,*OMSKY AT LEA/ ASPIRES TO CONTRIBUTE TO ! UND]/&+ ( HUMAN PSY*OLOGY4 ,I WANT TO DISCUSS 9 SOME DETAIL A FEW ( ! KEY ELEM5TS 9 ,*OMSKYAN L+UI/IC !ORY & PO9T \T A NUMB] ( :AT ,I ?9K >E BASIC FLAWS4 ,I WANT TO DO ?IS BECAUSE ,*OMSKY'S IDEAS HAVE /RONGLY 9FLU5C$ PEOPLE'S VIEWS ON ! 'AU?ORITY' ( LANGUAGE 9 \R LIVES1 & ALSO BECAUSE DISCUSSION ( ?OSE IDEAS RAISES IMPORTANT ISSUES ( 9TELLECTUAL AU?ORITY1 9 BO? PR9CIPLE & PRACTICE4 ,& IT IS NOT JU/ ( CO9CID5TAL 9T]E/ ?AT ,*OMSKY1 AS MO/ READ]S ( ?IS J\RNAL & ( ,FRE$OM PROBABLY KN[1 IS AN >D5T LIB]T>IAN4 

#b 

,! ,AM]ICAN PHILOSOPH] ,JOHN ,SE>LE EXPLA9S ,*OMSKY'S >GUM5T = ! EXI/5CE ( HIS WELL-KN[N 'UNIV]SAL GRAMM>' AS FOLL[S3 0,BUT1 MORE IMPORTANTLY1 ! SYNTAX HE CAME UP ) WAS EXTREMELY AB/RACT & COMPLICAT$1 & ?AT RAIS$ ! QUE/ION3 ',H[ CAN LITTLE KIDS LE>N ?AT8' ,Y\ CANNOT TEA* A SMALL *ILD AXIOMATIC SET !ORY1 & ,*OMSKY %[$ ?AT ,5GLI% IS MU* MORE COMPLICAT$ ?AN AXIOMATIC SET !ORY4 ,H[ IS IT ?AT LITTLE KIDS CAN LE>N ?AT8 ,:AT HE SAID WAS3 ',9 A S5SE1 !Y ALREADY KN[ IT4 ,IT IS A MI/AKE TO SUPPOSE ?AT ! M9D IS A BLANK TABLET4 ,:AT HAPP5S IS ?AT ! =M ( ALL NATURAL LANGUAGES IS PROGRAMM$ 9TO ! *ILD'S M9D AT BIR?4' 

,?IS CIRCUL> >GUM5T IS AN EXAMPLE ( ! FALSE ASSUMPTIONS ON :I* ! ,*OMSKYAN !ORY TO A L>GE EXT5T RE/S4 ,*OMSKY ]ECTS A FRI<T5+LY COMPLICAT$ & AB/RACT SY/EM ( SYNTAX1 )\T EVID5CE ?AT IT EXI/S AS A PSY*OLOGICAL REALITY1 & 9/EAD ( CONC$+ ?AT HE HAS P]HAPS CREAT$ SOME?+ >TIFICIAL1 HE USES ITS V]Y DIFFICULTY TO SUGGE/ ?AT !RE=E ITS MA/]Y MU/ BE 9BORN4 

,SO ! =MS HUMAN LANGUAGE CAN TAKE1 ,*OMSKY MA9TA9S1 >E BIOLOGICALLY DET]M9$4 ,YET HIS >GUM5T SOMETIMES DEP5DS ON PLA9 & SIMPLE FALSEHOODS4 ,AT LEA/ TWO >E REPEAT$ 9 A REC5T MU*-H]ALD$ BOOK BY ,/EV5 ,P9K]4 ,P9K] >GUES ?AT TO =M QUE/IONS ONE C\LD 0JU/ AS EFFECTIVELY444FLIP ! FIR/ & LA/ WORDS1 OR UTT] ! 5TIRE S5T5CE 9 MIRROR-REV]S$ ORD]10 BUT LANGUAGES DON'T USE !SE =MS = QUE/IONS1 & ?IS SUGGE/S 0A COMMONALITY 9 ! BRA9S ( SPEAK]S40 ,BUT :AT ,P9K] -- FOLL[+ ,*OMSKY -- CLAIMS H]E IS UNTRUE4 ,TAKE ! S5T5CE 0,CATS *ASE MICE01 & APPLY TO IT :AT IS BO? A FIR/ & LA/ WORD FLIP & A MIRROR REV]SAL1 & ( C\RSE Y\ WILL GET 0,MICE *ASE CATS01 :I* CANNOT BE US$ AS A QUE/ION1 S9CE IT IS ALREADY A DIFF]5T /ATEM5T ) A MEAN+ ! REV]SE ( 0,CATS *ASE MICE04 ,SO !RE IS A GOOD PRACTICAL REASON :Y NO LANGUAGE USES FIR/ & LA/ FLIP OR MIRROR REV]SAL = QUE/ION =M+4 

,P9K] ALSO ASS]TS ?AT 0IF A LANGUAGE HAS ! V]B BE=E ! OBJECT1 AS 9 ,5GLI%1 IT WILL ALSO HAVE PREPOSITIONS2 IF IT HAS ! V]B AFT] ! OBJECT1 AS 9 ,JAPANESE1 IT WILL HAVE PO/POSITIONS4 ,?IS IS A REM>KABLE DISCOV]Y4 ,IT MEANS ?AT ! SUP]-RULES SUFFICE NOT ONLY = ALL PHRASES 9 ,5GLI% BUT = ALL PHRASES 9 ALL LANGUAGES444 :5 *ILDR5 LE>N A P>TICUL> LANGUAGE1 !Y DO NOT HAVE TO LE>N A LONG LI/ ( RULES4 ,ALL !Y HAVE TO LE>N IS :E!R !IR P>TICUL> LANGUAGE HAS ! P>AMET] VALUE HEAD-FIR/1 AS 9 ,5GLI%1 OR HEAD-LA/1 AS 9 ,JAPANESE444 ,HUGE *UNKS ( GRAMM> >E !N AVAILABLE TO ! *ILD1 ALL AT ONCE1 AS IF ! *ILD W]E M]ELY FLIPP+ A SWIT* TO ONE ( TWO POSSIBLE POSITIONS40 ,AGA9 ! :OLE HYPO!SIS IS BAS$ ON A FALSEHOOD4 ,NOT ALL V]B-OBJECT LANGUAGES HAVE PREPOSITIONS4 ,= EXAMPLE1 ,F9NI% 0,MIES_/7,!7 MAN PANI_/PUT PULLON_/7!7 BOTTLE POYDAN_/7!7 TABLE'S ALLE_/UND]04 ,F9NI% IS NOT ! ONLY LANGUAGE ) ! V]B-OBJECT PATT]N TOGE!R ) PO/POSITIONS4 ,BUT IT IS OBVI\S ?AT EV5 JU/ ONE LANGUAGE ?AT DOES NOT OBEY ! ,*OMSKYAN-,P9K] SUP]-RULE WRECKS ! 5TIRE RULE1 & A *ILD CAN C]TA9LY NOT MA/] ! GRAMM> ( H] LANGUAGE BY 0M]ELY FLIPP+ A SWIT*04 

,*OMSKY BELIEVES WE >E BORN ) P[]S ( AB/RACT GRAMMATICAL ANALYSIS1 ! ABILITY TO ANALYZE S5T5CES 9TO !IR AB/RACT 0PHRASE /RUCTURE0 QUITE 9DEP5D5TLY ( ANY MEAN+1 EV51 9DE$1 IF ! S5T5CES >E MEAN+LESS4 ,BUT ?IS IS NOT H[ EI!R *ILDR5 OR ADULTS REALLY EXP]I5CE LANGUAGE4 ,= 9/ANCE1 IF WE CONSCI\SLY EXAM9E ! S5T5CE 0,! MAN ! MAN ! MAN KNEW KNEW KNEW01 IT IS COMP>ATIVELY SIMPLE TO ANALYZE IT 9TO AN AB/RACT 'PHRASE /RUCTURE' -- 7X7X7XY7Y7Y7 -- BUT IT IS ALMO/ IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK \T ITS MEAN+4 ,?IS IS BECAUSE !RE >E NO CLE> IMAGES TO FA/5 ON TO1 TO GIVE US \R BE>+S4 ,IT IS1 BY ,*OMSKY'S CRIT]IA1 A 'WELL-=M$' S5T5CE1 BUT BECAUSE IT IS1 EFFECTIVELY1 JU/ AN AB/RACTION1 IT LEAVES US MY/IFI$4 ,YET1 AL?\< 9 =MAL AB/RACT T]MS ! FOLL[+ S5T5CE IS F> MORE COMPLICAT$1 IT IS COMPREH5SIBLE PRECISELY BECAUSE IT CONSI/S ( RECOGNIZABLE MEAN+S3 0,DID Y\ REALIZE ?AT BOMB A RADICAL IMMIGRANT ! F9ANCE M9I/] ?AT IDIOTIC PRESID5T APPO9T$ LA/ YE> EMPLOYS 9 HIS [N PRIVATE BANK MANAG$ TO MAKE 9 ! SMALL AM\NT ( SP>E TIME ! M9I/] ALL[S HIM1 & PUT UND] ! SELF-IMPORTANT FOOL'S *AIR YE/]DAY1 WAS A TOY80 

,! L+UI/IC IDEOLOGY ( ,*OMSKY & HIS FOLL[]S LEADS SOMETIMES TO GROTESQUE MI/AKES4 ,TWO *AMPIONS ( HIS !ORIES1 = 9/ANCE1 EXPLA9 ?AT :AT DET]M9ES :E!R IS CAN BE CONTRACT$ TO 'S IS A SY/EM ( SYNTACTIC RULES ?AT MOVE :- WORDS 7:]E1 :5 ETC47 FROM C]TA9 POSITIONS 9 ONE SORT ( HYPO!TICAL S5T5CE TO O!R POSITIONS 9 ANO!R SORT ( HYPO!TICAL S5T5CE4 7,MOV+ CON/ITU5TS ( S5T5CES AB\T1 'P]=M+ OP]ATIONS' ON S5T5CES1 IS A BASIC P>T ( ,*OMSKYAN L+UI/ICS47 ,! RULES !Y PROPOSE >E 9 FACT RUBBI%1 & IT IS V]Y EASY TO DEMON/RATE ?AT !Y >E SO1 BUT ?AT IS REALLY ALL ONE CAN EXPECT FROM SU* AN APPROA*4 7,AS MO/ UNBIAS$ PEOPLE W\LD PROBABLY IMAG9E1 ! REAL DET]M9+ FACTOR = ! CONTRACTION ( IS IS :E!R EMPHASIS IS L$ AWAY FROM IT TO SOME O!R P>T ( ! S5T5CE47 

,*OMSKY'S SY/EM IS 9 MORE ?AN ONE WAY 9COH]5T4 ,HE MA9TA9S ?AT HUMAN 'P]=MANCE' ( LANGUAGE1 :AT PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAY1 IS TOO FULL ( MI/AKES1 SLIPS1 & /UMBL+S = *ILDR5 TO BE ABLE TO LE>N ! RULES ( GRAMM> ACCURATELY FROM OBS]V+ IT4 ,YET1 HE SAYS1 *ILDR5 DO RAPIDLY MA/] LANGUAGE1 SO !Y CANNOT BE GETT+ ITS PR9CIPLES FROM \TSIDE DATA1 BUT MU/ BE BORN ALREADY PROGRAMM$ ) ! PR9CIPLES ( UNIV]SAL GRAMM>1 SO ?AT !Y >E NOT MISL$ BY & CAN SORT \T ! 9SUFFICI5T & IMP]FECT EXAMPLES ( LANGUAGE !Y HE>4 ,BUT IT W\LD BE JU/ AS REASONABLE TO >GUE ?AT *ILDR5'S MA/]Y ( LANGUAGE %[S ! EVID5CE CANNOT BE 'DEG5]ATE'1 AS HE CALLS IT4 

,*OMSKY CONTRADICTS HIMSELF4 ,HE HAS CONT9UALLY EMPHASIZ$ ?AT *ILDR5 ALWAYS GET IT RI<T44 ,HE CANNOT HAVE IT BO? WAYS4 ,HE CLAIMS ?AT *ILDR5 GET ! WORD ORD] RI<T 9 /RUCTURES SU* AS 0,IS ! MAN :O IS TALL 9 ! ROOM80 DESPITE ! MI/AKES !IR ELD]S MAKE4 ,YET ?IS MEANS HE IS CLAIM+ ADULTS MAKE MI/AKES BUT *ILDR5 DON'T4 ,! TRU? IS ?AT ADULTS NEV] MAKE ! SORT ( MI/AKE ,*OMSKY IS REF]R+ TO1 OR1 IF !Y DO V]Y OCCASIONALLY1 C]TA9LY NO MORE ?AN *ILDR5 DO4 ,SO *ILDR5 9 FACT HAVE P]FECTLY GOOD DATA TO GO ON4 

,! OBJECTIONS TO ! PROPOSAL ?AT GRAMM> IS 9NATE & CANNOT BE LE>N$ FROM '\TSIDE' DATA >E ELEM5T>Y BUT FUNDAM5TAL4 

,! LANGUAGE WE KN[ *ILDR5 ACTUALLY GET RI<T IS NOT1 9 ,*OMSKY'S SY/EM1 ! ,*OMSKYAN 'DEEP /RUCTURE'1 BUT LANGUAGE ?AT HAS GONE ?R\< ,*OMSKYAN 'TRANS=MATIONS'4 ,BUT ! 'TRANS=MATIONS' MU/ BE DIFF]5T 9 EA* LANGUAGE4 ,YET ! *ILDR5 LE>N !M V]Y EFFICI5TLY & CAN ONLY LE>N !M FROM ! DATA PROVID$ AB\T !IR [N P>TICUL> LANGUAGE BY !IR ELD]S4 ,*OMSKYANS >GUE ?AT *ILDR5 >E BORN ) ! KN[L$GE ( :I* TRANS=MATIONS1 AMONG ! MANY !ORETICALLY POSSIBLE1 HUMAN LANGUAGE ACTUALLY P]MITS4 ,!RE >E1 !Y SAY1 CON/RA9TS ?AT APPLY TO ALL LANGUAGES4 

,?IS IS IRRELEVANT4 ,! FACT REMA9S ?AT *ILDR5 HAVE TO LE>N TO USE C]TA9 MODES ( EXPRESSION & NOT O!RS1 EV5 ?\< ?OSE O!RS EXI/ 9 O!R LANGUAGES1 & !Y CAN ONLY LE>N :I* EXPRESSIONS >E P]MITT$ 9 !IR LANGUAGE FROM EXP]I5CE1 BY OBS]VATION4 ,NO PREPROGRAM$ UNIV]SAL GRAMM> OR TRANS=MATIONAL RE/RICTIONS CAN HELP !M !RE4 ,= 9/ANCE1 ,5GLI% DOES NOT NORMALLY 9V]T MA9 CLAUSE V]B & SUBJECT AFT] AN ADV]BIAL PHRASE3 0,!N ! CAT W5T TO SLEEP40 ,BUT O!R ,G]MANIC LANGUAGES DO3 0,!N W5T ! CAT TO SLEEP40 -- 0,DANN I/ DIE ,KATZE E+ES*LAF540 ETC4 ,& ! ,5GLI%-LE>N+ *ILD CANNOT DO ANY SIMPLE 'SWIT* FLIPP+' TO ONE ( TWO POSSIBLES1 A LA ,P9K]1 BECAUSE IT IS ONLY NORMALLY ?AT ,5GLI% DOESN'T 9V]T4 ,SOMETIMES ,5GLI% DOES 9V]T -- AFT] NEGATIVES1 QUASI NEGATIVES LIKE 0ONLY01 & 0SO01 0SU*04 7,E4G4 0,NEV] HAD ,I HE>D ANY?+ SO BEAUTIFUL407 

,?IS LEADS ON TO AN EV5 MORE ELEM5T>Y OBJECTION4 ,! :OLE ,*OMSKYAN CASE IS SELF-CONTRADICTORY4 ,TO FLIP ! ,P9K]IAN SWIT* TO ! RI<T POSITION 7= ! SAKE ( >GUM5T LET US ASSUME = A MOM5T ! FALSE CORRELATION ( OBJECT-V]B ORD] ) PO/POSITIONS7 *ILDR5 HAVE TO NOTICE ?AT V]BS COME AFT] OBJECTS4 ,& ?AT'S V]Y EASY TO DO4 ,P9K] TACITLY AFFIRMS IT4 0,!Y CAN DO ?AT M]ELY BY NOTIC+ :E!R A V]B COMES BE=E OR AFT] ITS OBJECT 9 ANY S5T5CE 9 !IR P>5TS' SPEE*40 ,BUT 9 ?AT CASE1 :Y NOT REV]SE ! PROCESS & NOTICE FIR/ ?AT !RE >E PO/POSITIONS 9 Y\R P>5TS' SPEE*1 NOT PREPOSITIONS -- OR ANY O!R ( ! GRAMMATICAL PATT]NS ?AT FOLL[ FROM ! SUP] RULES -- & SO CONCLUDE ?AT V]BS COME AFT] OBJECTS8 ,?AT'S EQUALLY EASY TO DO4 ,*OMSKYAN L+UI/ICS DEM&S ! ABSURD4 ,LANGUAGE IS NOT LE>N$ BY OBS]VATION1 BUT Y\ HAVE TO />T ! PROCESS BY OBS]VATION4 

,! TRU? IS ?AT ,*OMSKY'S L+UI/ICS FAIL COMPLETELY TO ACC\NT = ! HUMAN MA/]Y ( LANGUAGE1 BO? 9 DETAIL & 9 ! BROAD4 

,EV5 IF HIS !ORY ( CON/RA9TS WAS :OLLY TRUE1 IT IS F> TOO NEGATIVE1 'PASSIVE'1 LIMIT$1 TO ACC\NT = ALL ?AT *ILDR5 HAVE TO LE>N AB\T !IR LANGUAGE1 EV5 IF WE LIMIT ! DISCUSSION TO 'GRAMM>'4 ,A F> MORE POSITIVE1 ACTIVE FACULTY IS NE$$4 ,H[ ELSE -- TO TAKE JU/ TWO ( ! MANY ?\S&S ( POSSIBLE EXAMPLES -- CAN ,SC&9AVIAN & ,ROMANIAN *ILDR5 LE>N ?AT ! DEF9ITE >TICLE GOES AFT] RA!R ?AN BE=E ! N\N1 UNLIKE O!R ,G]MANIC & ,LAT9 LANGUAGES8 ,H[ ELSE CAN *ILDR5 LE>N ! PRECISE WAY !IR LANGUAGE USES ! DEF9ITE >TICLE1 DIFF]5T 9 SUBTLE WAYS ACCORD+ TO MEAN+ FROM O!R LANGUAGES BELONG+ EV5 TO ! SAME LANGUAGE FAMILY8 

,&1 AGA9 SUPPOS+ ?AT ,*OMSKYAN !ORY IS :OLLY TRUE1 IT CAN ONLY ACC\NT = A T9Y P>T ( :AT EV]YBODY HAS TO DO TO MA/] A LANGUAGE4 ,Y\ HAVE TO OBS]VE1 DI/+UI%1 & USE A GREAT MANY SUBTLY DIFF]5T S\NDS4 ,Y\ HAVE TO OBS]VE1 DI/+UI%1 & USE ! P>TICUL> COMB9ATIONS ( S\NDS WE CALL WORDS1 & UND]/& ! CONNECTION BETWE5 ?OSE & ! DIFF]5T P>TS ( REALITY4 ,EV5 IF Y\ >E NOT P>TICUL>LY SOPHI/ICAT$1 Y\ WILL LE>N TO USE #a1 OR MORE WORDS1 & TO DIFF]5TIATE PRECISELY BETWE5 :AT >E (T5 V]Y SUBTLY V>Y+ MEAN+S4 ,Y\ WILL UND]/& ! MEAN+ ( MANY MORE ?AN ?AT NUMB]4 ,Y\ WILL REMEMB] !M :E!R OR NOT Y\ HAVE :AT IS CALL$ A 0GOOD MEMORY04 7,9 ADDITION Y\ WILL OBS]VE & REMEMB] HUNDR$S ( IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS :I* >E (T5 DIFF]5T EV5 BETWE5 LANGUAGES CLOSELY RELAT$ TO EA* O!R1 & :I* (T5 IGNORE ! NORMAL 'GRAMM>' ( Y\R LANGUAGE47 ,IF Y\ >E BIL+UAL Y\ MAY LE>N TWICE AS MANY WORDS & EXPRESSIONS1 AGA9 IRRESPECTIVE ( H[ GOOD Y\R MEMORY IS4 7,=EIGN-LANGUAGE LE>N]S TAKE HE>T3 \T/&+ MEMORY IS IRRELEVANT TO Y\R TASK47 ,9 ! 'DEVELOP$' WORLD :AT MI<T BE T]M$ ! G5]AL 7NON-SPECIALI/7 VOCABUL>Y ( A LANGUAGE CONTA9S AT LEA/ #b1 WORDS4 ,& UNIV]SAL GRAMM> WILL NOT HELP Y\ TO NOTICE PATT]NS ( MEAN+ SU* AS ?AT ! PA/ IS EXPRESS$ BY -$ 9 ,5GLI% BUT 9 O!R WAYS 9 ,FR5* ETC41 ETC4 ,Y\ MU/ /ORE ALL !SE S\ND-MEAN+S SOME:]E 9SIDE Y\ 9 A =M :I* IS NOT ! =M Y\ HE>D !M 94 ,Y\ MU/ BE ABLE TO C>RY \T ! PROCESS ( GETT+ ANY 'S\NDS' Y\ NE$ \T ( ! MEMORY1 >RANG+ !M 9 ! RI<T ORD]1 & TURN+ !M 9TO ! RI<T \TW>DLY AUDIBLE S\NDS 9 ! M\?1 & BE ABLE TO DO ALL ?IS AT GREAT SPE$ 9 :AT IS A REM>KABLE FEAT ( CO-ORD9ATION4 ,Y\ CAN DO ! SAME ?+ 9 REV]SE :5 Y\ LI/5 & UND]/&4 

#c 

,BUT ,I BELIEVE ! MO/ S]I\S MI/AKE 9 ,*OMSKY'S L+UI/ICS IS :AT SEEMS TO BE ! ASSUMPTION ?AT ?\<T IS SOME K9D ( LANGUAGE4 ,I DO NOT KN[ IF HE HAS EV] /AT$ ?AT IT IS 9 SO MANY WORDS4 ,! NE>E/ HE GETS 9 :AT ,I HAVE READ ( HIS WORK -- & ,I HAVE C]TA9LY NOT READ ALL ( IT -- IS :]E HE SAYS 0,( C\RSE1 ?IS DEEP /RUCTURE IS IMPLICIT ONLY2 IT IS NOT EXPRESS$ BUT IS ONLY REPRES5T$ 9 ! M9D0 & 0,! DEEP /RUCTURE ?AT EXPRESSES ! MEAN+ IS COMMON TO ALL LANGUAGES1 SO IT IS CLAIM$1 BE+ A SIMPLE REFLECTION ( ! =MS ( ?\<T04 ,& ?AT HE ?9KS ?\<T IS LANGUAGE COMES \T PRETTY CLE>LY1 = 9/ANCE1 9 HIS TREATM5T ( AMBIGUITY4 ,AMBIGUITY >ISES -- HE BELIEVES -- BECAUSE TWO DIFF]5T '?\<T- LANGUAGE' SEQU5CES 7MY EXPRESSION7 >E TRANS=M$ 9TO ! SAME SURFACE LANGUAGE4#h 

,AT ?IS PO9T ,I HAVE TO CONFESS TO P]SONAL PIQUE4 ,MY BOOK ,ANTIL+UI/ICS WAS PUBLI%$ 9 #a#i#i4 ,9 ,*APT] #a 7PP4#a#i#d-#b#a#i7 ,I DEMON/RAT$ CLE>LY1 ,I ?9K1 ?AT ESS5TIALLY ?\<T CAN HAVE NO?+ AT ALL TO DO ) ANY?+ ?AT C\LD REMOTELY BE CALL$ LANGUAGE4 ,! ONLY NECESS>Y CONNECTIONS >E ?AT LANGUAGE IS A TRANSLAT+ DEVICE = ! IMP]FECT EXPRESSION ( ?\<T1 & ?AT ?9K+ IS NECESS>Y = PRODUC+ LANGUAGE4 ,BUT 9 ,! LANGUAGE 9/9CT 7#a#i#i#d7 ,P9K] CONT9UES1 REG>DLESS1 TO PRES5T ?\<T AS A K9D ( LANGUAGE4 ,HE DOES 9DE$ GIVE SOME VALID REASONS = 9SI/+ ?AT IT IS NOT ANY ( ! 'SURFACE' LANGUAGES ?AT AS HUMANS WE ACTUALLY SPEAK2 BUT HE SAYS IT IS LIKELY ?AT ?\<T IS A UNIV]SAL 0M5TALESE0 :I* FOLL[S BASIC PR9CIPLES ( LANGUAGE /RUCTURE4 

,H]E >E SOME ( ! SIMPLE >GUM5TS ?AT %[ WE DO NOT ?9K 9 LANGUAGE3 

0,I WAS *AS$ R\ND A POND BY A DUCK LA/ WEEK40 ,9 ORD] TO SAY ?IS3 

,SOME?+ MU/ HAVE BE5 KEPT 9 MY M9D S9CE LA/ WEEK = ME N[ TO PRODUCE1 AMONG O!RS1 ! WORD 0DUCK04 ,! WORD 0DUCK0 ITSELF1 OR ANY O!R SYMBOL OR REPRES5TATION1 IS USELESS = ?IS PURPOSE1 S9CE ! WORD 0DUCK0 IS /OR$ 9SIDE ME SOME:]E1 NOT = ?IS UNIQUE LA/-WEEK-POND OCCASION1 BUT = ANY & EV]Y 'DUCK' NE$ ?AT >ISES4 ,SOME?+ ?AT IS NOT WORDS BUT UNIQUE TO ?AT OCCASION MU/ COME UP 9SIDE ME TO DET]M9E ! WORDS ,I USE4 

,!RE MU/ BE SOME?+ 9SIDE ME O!R ?AN WORDS OR SYMBOLS ?AT MAKES ME *OOSE ! P>TICUL> WORD 0DUCK0 RA!R ?AN1 SAY1 0WOLF04 ,IF ?\<T DEP5D$ ON LANGUAGE1 ALL ?\<T W\LD BE R&OM & >BITR>Y1 BECAUSE !RE W\LD BE NO?+ TO DECIDE 9 ! FIR/ PLACE ! SPECIFIC LANGUAGE TO BE US$4 ,:AT 9 FACT TRIGG]S 0DUCK0 IS A M5TAL PICTURE ( ! UNIQUE OCCASION4 7,I COMM5T BEL[ ON ! NATURE ( ?IS M5TAL PICTURE47 

,LANGUAGE IS A ONE-DIM5SIONAL '/RAI<T' L9E1 ONE WORD AFT] ! O!R4 ,9TROSPECTION TELLS US ?AT ?\<T IS MANY-DIM5SIONAL2 MOREOV]1 9 ?9K+1 TWO OR MORE ?+S CAN BE 9 ! SAME PLACE AT ! SAME TIME4 ,IT MAY BE OBJECT$ ?AT :AT 9TROSPECTION SUGGE/S IS AN ILLUSION2 ?IS CANNOT BE SO1 EV5 IF = NO O!R REASON ?AN ?AT NO /RAI<T-L9E ?9K+ W\LD BE CAPABLE ( ORGANIZ+ ! /RAI<T L9E ( LANGUAGE 9 ! WAY WE WANT IT4 

,PRACTICALLY EV]YBODY MU/ HAVE HAD ! EXP]I5CE ( BE+ AW>E ( AN OBJECT1 AN EMOTION1 A CONCEPT ETC4 )\T KN[+ ANY WORD = IT4 

,NO *ILD CAN UND]/& ANY LANGUAGE UNTIL %E RECOGNIZES 9SIDE H]SELF ! ?+ ! LANGUAGE REF]S TO4 ,?IS IS P>TICUL>LY OBVI\S 9 ! CASE ( EXP]I5CES1 EMOTIONS1 IDEAS ?AT >E :OLLY 9SIDE H]1 NOT \TSIDE H]4 ,:51 = 9/ANCE1 %E HE>S ! WORDS 0KN[01 05JOY0 OR 0DECIDE01 %E CANNOT UND]/& !M UNLESS %E IS ALREADY AW>E 9 SOME O!R WAY ( ! M5TAL PROCESSES !Y /& =4 ,?IS PROCESS IS 9 FACT :AT ALL UND]/&+ CONSI/S (1 9 *ILDR5 & ADULTS ALIKE4 ,IF WE CANNOT CONV]T A PIECE ( LANGUAGE 9TO SOME?+ ?AT IS NOT LANGUAGE1 WE SAY 0,I DON'T UND]/&01 EV5 IF 9DIVIDUALLY ! WORDS >E FAMILI> TO US4 

,BUT ! BE/ PRO( ?AT ?\<T IS NOT LANGUAGE %\LD BE ! SIMPLE AW>5ESS ?AT IT IS NOT4 ,I KN[ ?AT ,I DO NOT ?9K 9 LANGUAGE1 & ,I KN[ ?AT A V]Y L>GE P>T ( MY ?9K+ IS 9 M5TAL PICTURES4 ,P9K] BELIEVES O!RWISE4 ,HE 5VISAGES REPRES5TATIONS WORK$ ON BY PROCESSORS1 & SUMS UP BY SAY+3 0,?IS1 9 A NUT%ELL1 IS ! !ORY ( ?9K+ CALL$ '! PHYSICAL SYMBOL SY/EM HYPO!SIS' OR ! 'COMPUTATIONAL' OR 'REPRES5TATIONAL' !ORY ( M9D4 ,IT IS AS FUNDAM5TAL TO COGNITIVE SCI5CE AS ! CELL DOCTR9E IS TO BIOLOGY & PLATE TECTONICS IS TO GEOLOGY4 ,COGNITIVE PSY*OLOGI/S & NEUROSCI5TI/S >E TRY+ TO FIGURE \T :AT K9DS ( REPRES5TATIONS & PROCESSORS ! BRA9 HAS40 

,I ?9K ?IS MU/ BE QUITE WRONG4 ,SYMBOLS >E 9 !MSELVES NO?+1 USELESS4 ,SYMBOLS HAVE NO CONT5T1 !Y >E NOT PROCESSES4 ,!Y >E M]ELY BRIDGES BETWE5 ! REALITIES -- 9 ! CONTEXT ( ?\<T1 BRIDGES BETWE5 Y\R ?\<TS & MY ?\<TS OR VISE-V]SA4 ,I CANNOT PRODUCE ! SYMBOLS ?AT >E 0! DUCK *AS$ ME R\ND ! POND0 UNTIL ,I SUMMON UP A PICTURE ( ?AT EV5T 9 MY M9D1 & EQUALLY ,I DO NOT UND]/& SU* SYMBOLS UTT]$ BY SOMEONE ELSE UNTIL ,I USE !M TO GIVE ME A PICTURE 9 MY M9D4 ,MY '?\<T' MU/ BE BASICALLY ( ! SAME K9D AS ! ORIG9AL EXP]I5CE -- EV5 IF !RE >E OBVI\S DIFF]5CES -- JU/ AS A GRAMOPHONE RECORD IS NO GOOD TO ME UNTIL IT IS TURN$ BACK 9TO S\ND4 ,!RE CAN BE NO SYMBOL UNTIL !RE IS SOME?+ WE EXP]I5CE & >E AW>E ( TO GIVE A SYMBOL TO4 

,IF Y\ D\BT ?IS1 ?9K ( TUNES4 ,PRACTICALLY EV]YONE CAN HAVE TUNES 9SIDE !M4 ,!Y >E NOT SYMBOLS4 ,!Y >E ! ACTUAL TUNES !MSELVES1 BUT 9SIDE 9/EAD ( \TSIDE4 ,& IF ONE CAN HAVE TUNES1 S\NDS1 9SIDE ONE1 !RE IS NO REASON ONE CANNOT HAVE PICTURES TOO4 

,IT BECOMES EV5 CLE>] ?AT ?9K+ HAS NO?+ TO DO ) SYMBOLS IF WE CONSID] AN IDEA SU* AS ?AT EXPRESS$ BY 0,IF ,I /OP RUNN+1 ! DUCK WILL CAT* ME04 0,IF01 0SE01 0W5N01 0OM0 ETC4 7OR ANY O!R SORTS ( 'REPRES5TATION'7 CANNOT 9 !MSELVES BE ! ?9K+ PROCESS ( IF-+4 ,! V]Y FACT ?AT DIFF]5T LANGUAGES HAVE DIFF]5T SYMBOLS = ! SAME ?\<T %\LD EMPHASIZE TO US ?AT ?AT IS ALL !Y >E3 SYMBOLS (1 AB\T1 SOME?+ ELSE1 ! REAL ?+1 ?AT EXI/S ONLY 9SIDE US & IS EXCLUSIVELY ITSELF4 ,IF-+ DOES NOT REPLACE ANY?+ & IS NOT REPLAC$ BY ANY?+4 ,IF-+ ITSELF IS NOT1 ( C\RSE1 A PICTURE2 IT IS SOME?+ MORE MY/]I\S & 9TANGIBLE4 ,BUT IT DOES1 9 MY EXP]I5CE1 OP]ATE ON PICTURES4 7,I AM NOT1 ?\<1 >GU+ 9 FAVOR ( A DI/9CTION BETWE5 ! PHYSICAL & ! AB/RACT47 

#d 

,IF ,I AM RI<T ?AT ?\<T IS 9 ESS5CE 5TIRELY 9DEP5D5T ( LANGUAGE1 !N IT IS BASICALLY AN OBJECTIVE AW>5ESS1 NOT LANGUAGE1 ?AT DET]M9ES \R EXP]I5CE ( REALITY4 ,9 PRACTICE1 H[EV]1 LANGUAGE CORRUPTS ! M9DS ( PRACTICALLY EV]YONE1 & CORRUPTS ! M9DS ( SOME PEOPLE ALMO/ CON/ANTLY4 ,WORDS -- MEAN+S -- DO NOT ACCURATELY REPRES5T OR DESCRIBE ?+S1 SUB/ITUTE PROP]LY = !M1 AL?\< MO/ PEOPLE PROBABLY BELIEVE !Y DO4 ,IF LANGUAGE TRULY REFLECT$ REALITY1 :I* IS EV]-V>I$1 !RE W\LD BE NO LIMIT TO ! NUMB] ( WORDS1 & PEOPLE W\LD CON/ANTLY HAVE TO MAKE UP NEW ONES ON ! SPUR ( ! MOM5T1 :I* W\LD CLE>LY NOT WORK1 BECAUSE !Y W\LD NOT UND]/& EA* O!R4 ,SO PIGEON-HOL+ HAD TO BE 9V5T$ 9/EAD1 AN >TIFICIAL SY/EM ( /YLIZ$ SYMBOLS -- M]E TOK5S1 REF]5CES1 ASSOCIATIONS -- ?AT FALSIFY & DECEIVE FROM ! V]Y FIR/1 BY !IR V]Y NATURE4 ,!Y TAKE ON A LIFE ( !IR [N1 DRIVE \T & REPLACE REAL LIFE4 ,!Y SQUEEZE ! :OLE WORLD & HUMAN EXP]I5CE 9TO A /RAITJACKET ( 9FLEXIBLE1 FOSSILIZ$ MEAN+S4 

,I HAVE EXPLA9$ AT SOME L5G? 9 ,ANTIL+UI/ICS H[ ,I ?9K LANGUAGE CORRUPTS ?\<T1 H[ PEOPLE T5D TO ?9K 9 T]MS ( WORDS 9/EAD ( REAL ?+S & FEEL+S4 ,! LIT]ATE & >TICULATE >E P>TICUL>LY PRONE TO ?IS1 & !Y USE WORDS TO QUICKLY CREATE MY?S :I* MO/ ( ! RE/ ( !IR COMMUNITIES ACCEPT )\T QUE/ION1 & :I* >E !N ALMO/ IMPOSSIBLE TO DE/ROY3 0,! WILL ( ! PEOPLE1 ! SANCTITY ( LIFE1 GREAT LIT]ATURE1 HUMAN RI<TS1 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY1 DEMOCRATIC VALUES1 LAW & ORD]1 MOB RULE1 SEXUAL EQUALITY1 NATIONAL LIB]ATION1 ! DIGNITY ( WORK1 TRADITIONAL VALUES1 B\RGEOIS MORALITY1 CLASS /RUGGLE1 PEOPLE'S DEMOCRACY40 ,!SE >E JU/ A FEW ( ! ?\S&S ( COMB9ATIONS ?AT MILLIONS ( PEOPLE TAKE = GRANT$ & USE TO FOOL !MSELVES & O!RS AB\T ! NATURE ( ! WORLD4 ,P]HAPS ONE OR TWO >E ACCEPT$ EV5 BY SOME :O CALL !MSELVES AN>*I/S4 ,& ,I FE> ?AT V]Y (T5 :5 PEOPLE REJECT SU* PHRASES AS BOGUS1 !Y DO SO EV]Y BIT AS MU* BY A KNEE-J]K REACTION AS !Y DO :5 !Y ACCEPT !M4 ,9 NEI!R CASE DO !Y TRY TO ?9K1 )\T LANGUAGE1 AB\T :AT IS REALLY HAPP5+ TO ACTUAL HUMAN BE+S BEYOND ! WORDS4 

,V]Y (T5 PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WORDS EV5 ?\< !Y >E NOT US$ TOGE!R 9 FIX$ PHRASES4 ,! ASSOCIATION IS NO LESS RIGID = ?AT4 0,FRE$OM0 & 0DEMOCRACY01 = 9/ANCE4 ,H[ MANY PEOPLE EV] ?9K ( ! REALITY BEYOND ?AT ROBOT-LIKE REFLEX8 ,& ?\<TLESS COMB9ATIONS >E JO9$ 9 L>G] COMB9ATIONS3 0,NAME A FEATURE ( FREE GOV]NM5T40 -- 0,! PEOPLE FREELY ELECT+ !IR [N RUL]S40 ,SU* A COMMONPLACE CAN ONLY BE HAPPILY TROTT$ \T BY ?OSE :O DO NOT TRY TO TURN ! WORDS 9TO SOME?+ CLOS] TO REALITY4 

,LANGUAGE CORRUPTS 9 EV5 MORE BASIC WAYS ?AN ?IS4 ,ONE RESULT IS ?AT IT GIVES BIR? TO IDEOLOGIES & !IR HATR$S2 IT GIVES ! IDEOLOGIES NAMES & SO A P]MAN5T BOGUS 'REALITY'1 AL?\< !Y EXI/ ONLY 9 WORDS 9 HUMAN M9DS4 ,LANGUAGE GIVES NAMES & SO P]MAN5CE TO ! GR\PS -- TRIBAL1 POLITICAL1 NATIONAL1 PHILOSOPHICAL -- )\T :I* ! HATE & FANATICISM C\LD NOT COMMIT ITS SAVAG]IES4 ,& ! CRUEL ABSURDITIES ?AT SO (T5 FL[ FROM RELIGI\S BELIEF W\LD HAVE BE5 QUITE IMPOSSIBLE )\T LANGUAGE4 

,SIMPLE WORDS LIKE 0GOOD0 & 0BAD0 GIVE HUMANS SOME?+ TO RALLY R\ND1 TO EGG !MSELVES ON )1 AN EXCUSE = 9TOL]ANCE1 CONTROL ( M9DS1 W>1 TORTURE1 PRIDE & >ROGANCE4 ,!Y USE SU* WORDS TO REASSURE !MSELVES4 ,! TRAGIC IRONY IS ?AT !Y W\LD NE$ NO REASSURANCE IF ! WORDS HAD NOT BE5 !RE 9 ! FIR/ PLACE TO />T ANXIETIES & ASS]TIONS4 

,9 LANGUAGE HUMANS HAVE MADE !MSELVES A TOOL1 LIKE ! MOTOR-C>1 BUT EV5 MORE PRACTICAL1 EV5 MORE S$UCTIVE1 & EV5 MORE DEADLY4 

#e 

,! MY/IQUE ( LANGUAGE HAS HAD P[] OV] HUMANS = A LONG TIME4 ,LANGUAGE HAS GIV5 !M LIT]ATURE & ! '>T' ( WORDS4 ,!SE >E WIDELY RESPECT$1 & MANY BELIEVE LIT]ATURE IS A BETT] GUIDE TO REALITY ?AN LIFE ITSELF4 ,VE/$ 9T]E/S MAKE A VICI\S CIRCLE 9 DEF5SE ( LANGUAGE4 ,EV5 TODAY ! EXPRESSION & DISSEM9ATION ( IDEAS IS DONE ALMO/ 5TIRELY BY PR(ESSIONAL WRIT]S 79CLUD+ POLITICIANS74 ,NE>LY ALL ! RE/1 ( C\RSE1 IS DONE ?R\< SPOK5 LANGUAGE4 ,PRIDE1 ! WAY 7DIRECTLY OR 9DIRECTLY7 !Y MAKE !IR LIV+1 & AN 5TR5*$ ATTITUDE PASS$ D[N ?R\< G5]ATIONS MAKE IT UNLIKELY ?AT MANY :O WRITE W\LD AGREE ) ME 9 MY CRITICISM4 ,P]HAPS EV5 ! MAJORITY ( ?OSE :O READ ?IS J\RNAL -- NO /RANG]S1 SURELY1 TO REBELLI\S ?\<TS -- WILL AUTOMATICALLY REACT UNFAVORABLY4 

,N[ TO ?IS OLD V5]ATION ( LANGUAGE HAS BE5 ADD$ ! NEW =M ( ADMIRATION1 ! SCI5CE -- SO-CALL$ -- ( L+UI/ICS4 ,?IS MAY NOT MAKE ALL ! OLD LIT]ATURE-LOV]S HAPPY4 ,BUT MO/ PEOPLE 9T]E/$ 9 9TELLECTUAL MATT]S SEEM PLEAS$ TO BE TOLD BY ! EXP]TS ?AT ! M$IUM !Y REVEL 9 IS EV5 MORE PR(\ND ?AN !Y ?\<T4 ,LANGUAGE IS ! F\NDATION ( \R HUMANITY4 

,L+UI/ICIANS ?US DO US1 ,I BELIEVE1 A DISS]VICE4 ,!Y 9CREASE ! EMPHASIS & ATT5TION -- WOR%IP+ ATT5TION -- GIV5 TO LANGUAGE4 ,*OMSKYAN L+UI/ICS IS AMONG ! MO/ DANG]\S ( ALL1 BECAUSE IT CLAIMS TO P5ETRATE ! 9N]MO/ P>TS ( \R PSY*OLOGY1 ASS]TS ?AT 'GRAMM>' IS ! EXPRESSION ( \R BE+4 

,\R ATTITUDE TO LANGUAGE %\LD BE ! OPPOSITE4 ,WE %\LD REG>D IT ) CON/ANT DI/RU/1 BE EV] ON ! AL]T AGA9/ ITS FRAUDS4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT !RE >E PRACTICALLY ALWAYS WRIT]S :O EMPHASIZE H[ DANG]\S LANGUAGE CAN BE1 :O W>N US AB\T ITS ABUSES4 ,BUT !RE SEEMS TO AN ALMO/ UNIV]SAL VIEW ?AT LANGUAGE IS 9TR9SICALLY S\ND4 ,IF WE CAN AVOID ABUS+ IT1 IT WILL REMA9 ! GREATE/ HUMAN ASSET4 ,WE/]N PHILOSOPHY HAS BE5 = ! GREAT] P>T AB\T LANGUAGE4 ,! 'L+UI/IC PHILOSOPH]S' ( ?IS C5TURY APPE> TO HAVE RECOGNIZ$ ?IS1 BUT 9/EAD ( ESCAP+ FROM LANGUAGE !Y HAVE TRI$ TO 5?RALL$ US TO IT EV5 MORE4 ,YET ! DEF9+ ( WORDS 7& ALMO/ ANY O!R ANALYSIS ( LANGUAGE1 = ?AT MATT]7 IS M]ELY WORDS AB\T WORDS4 

,WE >E /UCK ) LANGUAGE1 JU/ AS WE >E /UCK ) HUMAN DISEASE -- OR1 = N[ AT LEA/1 ! WICK$NESS ( GOV]NM5TS4 ,?AT IS NOT A GOOD REASON = NOT TRY+ TO DO SOME?+ AB\T IT4 ,WE NE$ CON/ANTLY1 BO? 9 \R [N LANGUAGE & 9 \R ASSESSM5T ( ! LANGUAGE ( O!RS1 TO TRY TO GET R\ND BEYOND ! WORDS1 TO TRY TO ?9K WORDLESSLY AB\T :AT ACTUALLY HAPP5S1 & AB\T :AT ACTUAL 9DIVIDUALS FEEL1 SUFF] & NE$4 7,IT IS WOR? NOT+1 P]HAPS1 ?AT ! WOR/ (F5D]S AMONG ! WORDS WE USE >E (T5 N\NS47 

,& -- ?\< ?IS MAY SEEM A CONTRADICTION -- A HELPFUL1 IF M9OR1 CONFIRMATION ( ! ESS5TIALLY SUP]FICIAL NATURE ( LANGUAGE CAN BE F\ND 9 LE>N+ =EIGN LANGUAGES4 ,LE>N+ A =EIGN LANGUAGE WELL IS ONE ( ! HEAL?IE/ ACTIVITIES A HUMAN BE+ CAN 5GAGE 94 ,IT GIVES A S5SE ( A*IEVEM5T1 A PRIDE 9 MA/]Y1 YET 9VOLVES NO DOM9ATION ( O!RS4 ,IT IS :OLLY UNAU?ORIT>IAN4 ,=EIGN LANGUAGES NE$ NOT DIVIDE US2 RA!R1 !Y CAN TEA* US TOL]ANCE & SYMPA?Y4 ,TO /UDY =EIGN LANGUAGES %\LD & CAN BE TO UND]/& ?AT :ILE ALL HUMANS %>E ! SAME BASIC EXP]I5CE1 ! WAYS !Y EXPRESS ! DETAILS ( ?AT EXP]I5CE >E FASC9AT+LY V>I$4 ,WE CAN DELI<T 9 ! DIV]SITY ( LANGUAGES )9 A COMMON HUMANITY4 ,TO DISCOV] ?AT O!R PEOPLE HAVE !IR [N SPECIAL WAY ( EXPRESS+ !MSELVES & ! WORLD >\ND !M1 JU/ AS WE \RSELVES HAVE1 %\LD NOT & NE$ NOT SEP>ATE US2 IT %\LD BR+ US TOGE!R1 DIM9I% \R >ROGANCE4 ,BUT TO LE>N A TRULY FELT SYMPA?Y ( ?AT K9D1 MO/ PEOPLE NE$ TO LE>N ONE OR MORE =EIGN LANGUAGES S]I\SLY4 ,& !Y F9D !N1 TOO1 ?AT LE>N+ =EIGN LANGUAGES CAN BE ONE ( ! MO/ \TGO+ HOBBIES 9 ! WORLD4 ,NOT ONLY 9 ! OBVI\S S5SE2 ALSO BECAUSE %>+ 5?USIASM & CURIOSITY AB\T ! MYRIAD PECULI>ITIES ( ! WORLD'S TONGUES IS A JOY OP5 TO PRACTICALLY ALL ( US4 

,EV5 H]E1 ?\<1 ,*OMSKYAN L+UI/ICS HAS HAD A BAD 9FLU5CE4 ,ALL OV] ! WORLD IT HAS DIV]T$ A GREAT DEAL ( TIME & 5]GY1 & MONEY TOO1 AWAY FROM ! PROP] ACTIVITIES ( DEP>TM5TS ( MOD]N LANGUAGES4 ,IT HAS DRAWN ! ATT5TION ( W\LD-BE LANGUAGE-LE>N]S1 AT LEA/ 9 FUR!R $UCATION1 AWAY FROM ! ?+S !Y REALLY NE$ TO CONC5TRATE ON IF !Y WANT TO LE>N A =EIGN LANGUAGE EFFICI5TLY & QUICKLY4 ,!Y HAVE BE5 S$UC$ BY PR(\ND-S\ND+ !ORIES 9TO NEGLECT+ WORDS & IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS1 ! ESS5CE ( LANGUAGES1 9 FAVOR ( AB/RACTIONS ( NO PRACTICAL VALUE4 ,IT W\LD PROBABLY BE UNFAIR TO SUGGE/ ?AT MY EXP]I5CE IS /ATI/ICALLY REPRES5TATIVE1 BUT ,I F\ND IT IRONIC :51 MANY YE>S AGO1 ! =EIGN /UD5TS ( M9E :O TRI$ TO CONV]T ME TO DEEP /RUCTURE1 TRANS=MATIONS & UNIV]SAL GRAMM> W]E MO/LY 9CAPABLE ( GETT+ EV5 FIFTY P] C5T ( COMP>ATIVELY SIMPLE ,5GLI% S5T5CES GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT4 ,!Y W]E TOO BUSY SUBJECT+ !M TO ,*OMSKYAN OP]ATIONS4 ,9 ,SW$51 C]TA9LY NOT KN[N AS BACKW>D 9 ! MATT] ( /UDY+ LANGUAGES1 TWO ( ! MO/ EXP]I5C$ PR(ESSORS 9 ! FIELD1 ,JOHANNES ,H$B]G & ,GU/AV ,KORL51 HAVE PO9T$ \T PUBLICLY ON SEV]AL OCCASIONS ?AT !RE HAS BE5 NO PROGRESS 9 LANGUAGE TEA*+ 9 !IR C\NTRY S9CE ! LATE FIFTIES4 

#f 

,IT GIVES ME NO PLEASURE TO ATTACK :AT IS HALF ( ,*OMSKY'S LIFE'S WORK1 EV5 IF ,I HAVE 5JOY$ ! 9TELLECTUAL *ALL5GE4 ,I WI% ,*OMSKY WAS SOME O!R POLITICAL ACADEMIC1 LIKE ,H5RY ,KISS+]4 ,I C\LD !N HAVE FELT MU* LESS COMPUNCTION AB\T ASSAULT+ HIS !ORIES4 ,I F9D CONSID]ABLE IRONY 9 ! PROGRESS ( ,NOAM ,*OMSKY'S LIFE4 ,! TRA9+ 9 S*OL>%IP ?AT HE GA9$ 9 HIS C>E] AS A L+UI/ICIAN DID HIS L+UI/ICS NO GOOD AT ALL4 ,BUT IT HAS S]V$ HIM WOND]FULLY 9 SE>*+ \T ! EVIL DE$S ( GOV]NM5TS4 ,&1 AGA9 IRONICALLY & BY GREAT GOOD =TUNE1 HIS L+UI/IC WORK HAS MADE HIM FAM\S1 & ! WORLD %\LD BE GRATEFUL ?AT HIS FAME HAS HELP$ HIM BECOME SU* A =MIDABLE CRITIC ( ?OSE ) P[]4 

,*OMSKY /RIKES ME AS A P]SON ( GREAT 9TELLECTUAL & SOCIAL BOLDNESS & C\RAGE1 ! MO/ IMPORTANT & P]HAPS R>E/ SORT ( C\RAGE4 ,HE C\LD HAVE SAT BACK & BASK$ 9 ! ADMIRATION ( ACADEMICS & 9TELLECTUALS4 ,9/EAD HE HAS FAC$ ABUSE & CONTEMPT = HIS ATTACK ON ! IMMORALITY ( POLITICAL & ECONOMIC P[] ?R\<\T ! WORLD & HIS DEM& = DEC5CY4 ,HE IS CON/ANTLY MISREPORT$ & MIS9T]PRET$4 ,HE IS EV5 ACCUS$ ( D5Y+ ! ,HOLOCAU/1 AL?\< HE HAS WRITT5 ( ! KILL+ ( ! ,JEWS AS 0! MO/ FANTA/IC \TBUR/ ( COLLECTIVE 9SANITY 9 HUMAN HI/ORY04 ,:AT ,*OMSKY DOES DO1 ?\<1 9 ! FACE ( MALICI\S VILIFICATION1 IS DEF5D ! RI<T ( PEOPLE TO EXPRESS VIEWS HE HIMSELF DESPISES4 ,HE IS A WOR?Y SUCCESSOR TO ,VOLTAIRE4 ,AN 9CID5T ,I F9D P>TICUL>LY MOV+ CAN BE SE5 9 ! ,CANADIAN-MADE FILM ON ,*OMSKY CALL$ 0,MANUFACTUR+ ,CONS5T0 7#a#i#i#b74 ,ROB]T ,FAURISSON WAS CONVICT$ BY A ,FR5* C\RT ( ! CRIME ( >GU+ ?AT ! SLAU<T] ( ! ,JEWS NEV] TOOK PLACE4 ,*OMSKY WROTE 9 DEF5SE ( ,FAURISSON'S RI<T TO FREE SPEE*1 & W5T TO ,P>IS TO PROTE/4 ,HE WAS ABUS$ & HECKL$ BO? BY ! ,FR5* PRESS & 9 P]SON4 ,BUT1 AS ,*OMSKY PO9T$ \T1 !RE >E ONLY TWO POSITIONS Y\ CAN TAKE ON FREE SPEE*4 ,Y\ >E EI!R = IT OR Y\ >E AGA9/ IT4 

,I DON'T KN[ IF HE GETS TIR$ AS HE GOES ON1 YE> AFT] YE>1 DEF5D+ ! OPPRESS$ & GA!R+ ! 9=MATION ?AT CONDEMNS ! LEAD]S1 ! HI]>*IES1 ! CORPORATIONS & ! PRIVILEG$4 ,BUT HE DOESN'T /OP1 & HIS D$ICATION TO ?IS TASK >\SES GREAT EMOTION 9 ME4 ,I HAVE SE5 CRITICISM ( HIM BY SOME READ]S ( ,FRE$OM2 ,I ?9K HE C\LD SOMETIMES HAVE ADOPT$ A BETT] APPROA*4 ,BUT %\LDN'T ! DISAGREEM5TS BE SE5 AS REALLY ONLY AB\T TACTICS & EMPHASIS8 

,H]E ,I MU/ COME BACK TO MY FRU/RATION AT ! FATE ( MY BOOK ,ANTIL+UI/ICS4 ,C]TA9LY IT IS A MATT] ( P]SONAL PIQUE4 ,BUT ,I BELIEVE SOME?+ F> MORE IMPORTANT ?AN MY FEEL+S IS AT ISSUE4 ,I ANTICIPAT$ ! BOOK'S RECEPTION 9 ! BOOK ITSELF4 ,AP>T FROM ?REE REVIEW]S1 ! V]Y EXI/5CE ( ! BOOK WAS IGNOR$ BY ! ACADEMIC WORLD4 ,! ?REE L+UI/ICIAN CRITICS RIDICUL$ ! BOOK & DECL>$ ,I DID NOT KN[ :AT ,I WAS TALK+ AB\T4 ,BECAUSE ,I WAS AN AMATEUR1 NOT A TRA9$ PR(ESSIONAL ACADEMIC1 MY VIEWS W]E NOT TO BE TAK5 S]I\SLY4 ,)9 ! ACADEMIC FRAT]NITY IT IS P]FECTLY ACCEPTABLE1 PROP] 9DE$1 TO ATTACK COLLEAGUES' IDEAS4 ,*OMSKY MU/ BE AS US$ TO CRITICISM ( HIS L+UI/ICS AS HE IS ( HIS POLITICS1 AL?\< ! TONE IS QUITE DIFF]5T4 ,BUT IF AN \TSID] ATTACKS A :OLE DISCIPL9E1 ITS PRACTITION]S ( ALL S*OOLS CLOSE RANKS & EI!R PRET5D IT HASN'T HAPP5$ OR SCORNFULLY DECL>E !IR OPPON5T 9COMPET5T4 

,! CONTRA/ ) ! REACTION TO MY BOOK ( PEOPLE :O >E 9T]E/$ 9 LANGUAGE BUT NOT ACADEMICS WAS REVEAL+4 ,9 ?REE REVIEWS IT WAS WRITT5 ?AT MY CRITICISMS W]E 0V]Y P[]FULLY0 OR 0CLE>LY0 >GU$ & NE$$ TO BE ANSW]$4 ,YET NEI!R !N NOR S9CE HAVE ANY ( MY CRITICS OR ANY O!R ACADEMICS ATTEMPT$ TO ADDRESS ANY ( MY >GUM5TS4 ,I PUBLICLY *ALL5G$ TWO ( !M TO PUBLIC DEBATE1 BUT ! RESPONSE WAS -- UNSURPRIS+LY -- SIL5CE4 7,I DO NOT NAME !M1 S9CE MY PURPOSE IS NOT A P]SONAL V5DETTA47 

,I MAY HAVE GOT IT ALL WRONG4 ,BUT 9 ?AT CASE ,I AM NO WORSE ?AN PROBABLY ! GREAT MAJORITY ( PR(ESSIONAL SOCIAL 'SCI5TI/S'1 S9CE !Y DISAGREE SO MU* ) EA* O!R1 & ONLY ONE S*OOL AT ! MO/ CAN BE CORRECT4 ,! BEHAVIORI/ ,B4,F4,SK9N] WAS HE>D & LI/5$ TO1 AL?\< CLE>LY WRONG1 BUT HE WAS AN ACADEMIC4 ,*OMSKY WAS HE>D & LI/5$ TO -- & ANSW]$ -- :5 HE %[$ ,SK9N] WAS WRONG1 BUT HE WAS AN ACADEMIC AS WELL4 ,F4,R4,H4,5GLEFIELD WROTE AB\T LANGUAGE TOO1 BUT HE WAS NOT AN ACADEMIC2 HE WAS A S*OOLTEA*]1 & HE WAS V]Y LITTLE HE>D1 V]Y LITTLE LI/5$ TO1 & PRACTICALLY NOT ANSW]$ AT ALL4 

,! TR\BLE IS ?AT ! ?\S&S ( PEOPLE CAPABLE ( MAK+ VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMAN ?9K+ ON ALL IMAG9ABLE TOPICS >E TODAY 9TIMIDAT$ & LOCK$ \T BY \R 9TELLECTUAL BOSSES AT ! UNIV]SITIES4 ,IT IS ONLY NAIVE >ROGANT CRAZIES LIKE ME :O EV] TRY1 NE>LY ALWAYS :OLLY UNSUCCESSFULLY1 TO BREAK !IR C5SOR%IP4 ,5GLEFIELD WAS A S*OL>4 ,I AM NOT EV5 ?AT1 P>TLY FROM LAZ9ESS1 BUT ALSO FROM PR9CIPLE4 ,ACADEMICS HAVE NO RI<T TO IGNORE ! OP9IONS ( PEOPLE 9T]E/$ 9 !IR SUBJECT JU/ BECAUSE !Y DO NOT HAVE ! TIME1 OR ! OPPORTUNITY1 OR ! 9CL9ATION1 OR ! TEMP]AM5T TO READ ALL1 OR EV5 L>GE AM\NTS (1 ! 'LIT]ATURE'1 OR TO 5JOY ! PRIVILEG$ LIFE ( ?OSE AT ! SEATS ( LE>N+4 

,S*OL>%IP IS ! PAID JOB ( ACADEMICS4 ,ACADEMICS %\LD BE \R 9TELLECTUAL S]VANTS1 NOT \R 9TELLECTUAL MA/]S -- HONOR$ & VALU$ S]VANTS1 C]TA9LY1 BUT ! COMMUNITY'S S]VANTS NEV]!LESS4 ,IT IS UNW>RANT$ TO DISMISS OP9IONS BECAUSE !Y >E 'OLD' ONES1 SUGGE/$ N[ ONLY BY IGNORAMUSES UNAW>E ?AT !Y HAVE BE5 %[N TO BE FAULTY LONG AGO4 ,KN[L$GE & >GUM5T >E NOT ! EXCLUSIVE PROP]TY ( ACADEMIA1 FROM :I* ! UNTRA9$ >E TO BE %UT \T4 ,ANY >GU$ IDEA DES]VES ! C\RTESY ( AN >GU$ REPLY1 TOGE!R ) ANY 9=MATION ! REPLI] ?9KS RELEVANT4 ,ANYBODY :O ?9KS ?AT >GUM5TS DO NOT NE$ TO BE REPEAT$ & EXPLA9$ 5DLESSLY -- EV51 & P]HAPS P>TICUL>LY1 :5 !Y SEEM TO BE UNIV]SALLY UND]/OOD & ACCEPT$ -- IS UNJU/IFIABLY >ROGANT4 

,NOAM ,*OMSKY KN[S :AT IT IS LIKE :5 PEOPLE TRY TO MUZZLE Y\4 ,BUT ,I DON'T ?9K HE KN[S FULLY :AT IT FEELS LIKE :5 IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A HE>+ ANY:]E AT ALL4 ,I AM NOT QUITE 9 ?IS POSITION EI!R1 BECAUSE ,I AM LUCKY 5\< TO HAVE A FRI5D :O IS AN UNUSUAL P]SON & AT ! SAME TIME AN UNUSUAL PUBLI%]4 ,& ,I AM LUCKY TOO BECAUSE MY P>TICUL> POLITICAL & SOCIAL VIEWS GIVE ME ACCESS TO PUBLICATIONS SU* AS ?IS ONE OR ,FRE$OM4 ,BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE1 IT SEEMS1 TO GET A REASON$ ANSW]4 ,I %\LD V]Y MU* WELCOME A PUBLIC DECL>ATION BY ,*OMSKY ON ?IS PROBLEM1 EV5 IF ANY GREAT 9FLU5CE HE CAN HAVE ON IT IS LIMIT$1 AT ANY RATE IMM$IATELY1 TO ! ACADEMIC WORLD4 

#g 

,HUMANS' ATTITUDE TO LANGUAGE MAY 9 ! 5D BE ! BASIC FACTOR ?AT DECIDES !IR FATE4 ,BUT TODAY & TOMORR[ ! PROBLEMS ( ECONOMICS & POLITICS >E ( C\RSE F> MORE IMPORTANT ?AN ?OSE ( L+UI/ICS4 ,?9K+ ON ECONOMICS IS TODAY ALMO/ C]TA9LY ! S+LE MO/ IMPORTANT FACTOR 9 DECID+ POLITICAL ATTITUDES ALL OV] ! WORLD4 ,?9K+ ON ECONOMICS1 TOO1 ?\<1 IS EFFECTIVELY L>GELY CONTROLL$ BY ACADEMIC !ORI/S4 ,! ACADEMICS MAY NOT ACTUALLY CONTROL ! WORLD'S MONEY1 BUT ?OSE :O DO >E S]V$ BY PEOPLE :O HAVE COME FROM ! UNIV]SITIES2 & PRACTICALLY ALL ! ECONOMI/S AT ! UNIV]SITIES EMBRACE ONE OR O!R ( ! V>I\S S*OOLS ( ECONOMIC ?\<T :OSE PR9CIPLES >E APPLI$ 9 ! WORLD AS IT IS TODAY4 ,TRULY RADICAL IDEAS ON ! SUBJECT CAN GET VIRTUALLY NO HE>+1 LET ALONE A RESPONSE4 ,:AT W\LD HAPP51 ,I WOND]1 IF ! GREAT MAJORITY ( ACADEMIC ECONOMI/S DECL>$ ?AT ALL ! WORLD'S ECONOMIC DOCTR9ES & SY/EMS >E UNSCI5TIFIC1 IRRATIONAL & ABSURD8 ,P]HAPS ! WOR/ & OLDE/ PROBLEM ?AT AN>*I/S FACE IS PRECISELY ?AT ( MAK+ !MSELVES HE>D1 LI/5$ TO1 & ANSW]$4 ,*OMSKY HAS SAID SOME?+ 7AGA9 9 0,MANUFACTUR+ ,CONS5T07 ?AT IS RELEVANT1 & TRUE 9 TWO S5SES4 ,I HOPE IT IS NOT REALLY A P>ADOX ?AT MY HE>T GOES \T MORE ?AN EV] TO ,NOAM ,*OMSKY AS A F9E1 GOOD & EXCEPTIONAL MAN AT ! MOM5T ,I HE> HIM SAY ?AT HE IS NOT REALLY IMPORTANT2 IT IS 'ORD9>Y' PEOPLE :O >E IMPORTANT4 ,H[ DO WE GET \R IDEAS ACROSS TO MILLIONS ( 'ORD9>Y' PEOPLE1 H[ DO WE P]SUADE !M ?AT IT IS !Y :O >E IMPORTANT1 & H[ >E !Y !N TO TRANSLATE !IR IMPULSE T[>DS A MORE DEC5T LIFE 9TO PRACTICAL ACTION8 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

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