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The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax and Other Irreverent Essays on the Study of Language 1st Edition
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Geoffrey K. Pullum's writings began as columns in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory in 1983. For six years, in almost every issue, under the banner "TOPIC. . .COMMENT," he published a captivating mélange of commentary, criticism, satire, whimsy, and fiction. Those columns are reproduced here—almost exactly as his friends and colleagues originally warned him not to publish them—along with new material including a foreword by James D. McCawley, a prologue, and a new introduction to each of these clever pieces. Whether making a sneak attack on some sacred cow, delivering a tongue-in-cheek protest against current standards, or supplying a caustic review of some recent development, Pullum remains in touch with serious concerns about language and society. At the same time, he reminds the reader not to take linguistics too seriously all of the time.
Pullum will take you on an excursion into the wild and untamed fringes of linguistics. Among the unusual encounters in store are a conversation between Star Trek's Commander Spock and three real earth linguists, the strange tale of the author's imprisonment for embezzling funds from the Campaign for Typographical Freedom, a harrowing account of a day in the research life of four unhappy grammarians, and the true story of how a monograph on syntax was suppressed because the examples were judged to be libelous. You will also find a volley of humorous broadsides aimed at dishonest attributional practices, meddlesome copy editors, mathematical incompetence, and "cracker-barrel philosophy of science." These learned and witty pieces will delight anyone who is fascinated by the quirks of language and linguists.
- ISBN-100226685349
- ISBN-13978-0226685342
- Edition1st
- PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press
- Publication dateJuly 9, 1991
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions8.46 x 5.57 x 0.56 inches
- Print length246 pages
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- Publisher : University of Chicago Press; 1st edition (July 9, 1991)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 246 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0226685349
- ISBN-13 : 978-0226685342
- Item Weight : 10.5 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.46 x 5.57 x 0.56 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,152,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #379 in Linguistics (Books)
- #2,213 in Linguistics Reference
- #5,115 in Professional
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The Amazon.com editorial review for this book has it right: Geoffrey Pullum wrote an editorial column (titled "Topic.... Column") for seven years for the journal "Natural Language and Linguistic Theory" starting in the early 1980s. Here, we are treated to 23 of Pullum's 28 editorials for NLLT over those seven years, and we get his perspective on the field of linguistics, how linguists "work", and other issues that caught Pullum's fancy, e.g. libel laws in Britain versus the United States (definitely should be on one's "must read" list!), how linguistics should be taught, where linguistics should be placed as a discipline in academia, issues re publishing in journals in academia, and, of course, issues re linguistics theories. Some of the material that dives headlong into linguistics theory can be a bit disorienting, but I enjoyed reading this book. I have a deep curiosity about linguistics, which is why I decided to read the entire work, and not just the article on Eskimos' words for snow. It wasn't spectacular or mind-bending, but, as I said, I enjoy learning about linguistics, and I got to see it from the perspective of an insider. John V. Karavitis, John Karavitis, Karavitis.
I loved the Chomsky vs. the Vulcan thing :)
The linguistic concepts were a bit beyond me, but i loved the article about how linguistic journals correct (incorrectly) the grammar *of linguists*. And the English First article really shows the idiocity and lack of lingustic understanding among the general public. I'm starting to wonder if every academic discipline is misunderstood by the faceless "general public" ... and if so how I can reconcile this with my professed belief in the "inherent worth and dignity of every person."
Anyways, other interested pieces included a fictious piece where each division on campus is vying for the linguistics department to be moved under their jurisdiction, the eskimo vocabulary hoax piece of course, and just the overall tone and stuff. I highly recommend this if you like linguistics, or even if you don't like linguistics but like academic books with a sense of humor ;)
And if you want to know whether one of the Eskimo languages has more words for snow than, say, English, here's the definitive and surprising answer.

