Language in Thought and Action: Fifth Edition First Edition

by S.I. Hayakawa (Author), Alan R. Hayakawa (Author), Robert MacNeil (Introduction)

109 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0156482400

ISBN-10: 0156482401

Why is ISBN important?

Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Condition: Used - Very Good

In Stock. Sold by Inventory Express, Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

List Price: $16.00 Save: $4.03 (25%)

68 New from $7.75

FREE Shipping on orders over $25—or get FREE Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime

Turn on 1-Click ordering

More Buying Choices

68 New from $7.75 128 Used from $1.50 1 Collectible from $75.00

197 used & new from $1.50

See All Buying Options

Free%20Two-Day%20Shipping%20for%20College%20Students%20with%20Amazon%20Student

In an era when communication has become increasingly diverse and complex, this classic work on semantics—now fully revised and updated—distills the relationship between language and those who use it.

Renowned professor and former U.S. Senator S. I. Hayakawa discusses the role of language in human life, the many functions of language, and how language—sometimes without our knowing—shapes our thinking in this engaging and highly respected book. Provocative and erudite, it examines the relationship between language and racial and religious prejudice; the nature and dangers of advertising from a linguistic point of view; and, in an additional chapter called “The Empty Eye,” the content, form, and hidden message of television, from situation comedies to news coverage to political advertising.

Frequently bought together

Total price: $31.73

One of these items ships sooner than the other. Show details

Buy the selected items together

This item:Language in Thought and Action: Fifth Edition by S.I. Hayakawa Paperback $11.97
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Choose the Right Word: Second Edition by S. I. Hayakawa Paperback $19.76
Only 15 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

S. I. Hayakawa

24

Paperback
$19.76
Younan
Paperback
$25.03
Robert Asher

3

Paperback
34 offers from $9.99
S. Morris Engel

6

Paperback
$11.84
Susan Presby Kodish

25

Paperback
$15.00
Christopher A.…

23

Hardcover
44 offers from $81.85

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading.

S.I. Hayakawa

109

Paperback
$82.95
S. I. Hayakawa

24

Paperback
$19.76
S. I. HAYAKAWA

109

Hardcover
17 offers from $4.15
Susan Presby Kodish

25

Paperback
$15.00
Alfred Korzybski

55

Hardcover
33 offers from $37.57
Robert Asher

3

Paperback
34 offers from $9.99

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Montreal, Robert MacNeil grew up in Halifax, attended Dalhousie University and graduated from Carleton in Ottawa. After early work as a CBC announcer, he was a journalist for forty years with Reuters News Agency, NBC News and the BBC, culminating in twenty years as Executive Editor of the MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour on PBS. His bestselling novel, Burden of Desire, won rave reviews in Canada and the U.S. He is also the author of two other novels, The Voyage and Breaking News; three memoirs, The Right Place at the Right Time, Wordstruck, and Looking For My Country; and co-author of The Story of English and its sequel, Do You Speak American? He divides his time between New York and Nova Scotia.

Paperback: 196 pages
Publisher: Harvest Original; First edition (January 1, 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0156482401
ISBN-13: 978-0156482400
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 109 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Vocabulary, Slang & Word Lists > Word Lists
- #8 in Books > Reference > Words, Language & Grammar > Semantics
- #9 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Linguistics

Would you like to tell us about a lower price?
If you are a seller for this product, would you like to suggest updates through seller support?

NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE

Customer Reviews

Write a customer review

See all 109 customer reviews

Rated by customers interested in

What's this?

Linguistics Books

3.0 out of 5 stars

Reference Books

4.4 out of 5 stars

Sports Books

4.5 out of 5 stars

Is this feature helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

Read reviews that mention

Top customer reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Kathy F

Kindle and paperback are different versions

August 12, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Language in Thought and Action (5th edition) is a wonderful book. I have two copies (thought my first one was lost, bought another because I need it for regular reference) and I have recommended it often to others.

In reading reviews here, I noticed that many miss the earlier editions of this book, feeling that something has been lost in translation in the latest edition. I was curious and wondered if I could ever find an older edition in order to see for myself. It appears that the Kindle version here IS the original text. I'm very happy to have access to it for comparison purposes. And what a price! (I feared that buying a physical copy of a first edition at a used book store might set me back a pretty penny.)

That said, be aware that the books are significantly different. Just alerting any first-time buyer to select with care.

Another note: I love the introduction to the 5th edition by Robert MacNeil (of MacNeil/Leherer fame) but this Amazon listing erroneously gives his biography information as that of the "author". That is confusing to say the least! Dear Amazon: please correct.

Comment 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Ernest Stambouly

A powreful access to new ways of listening and speaking

September 15, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

With this book, I learned to make powerful and useful observations of others' thinking in conversations. I am grateful for the authors (Hayakawa et al.) for this book, it taught me to understand "language" differently, in ways that are not commonly gotten. I shared it with my brother, then my father and some of my colleagues. All of them embraced its value because of real results in their work and lives. I literally saw them shift in the way they think. The substance of this work, if read without the conceit of judgment and critique, does have this effect.

Some of the low-rated reviews I noticed have an academically philosophical bent. But this book is highly pragmatic: you can do something with what you learn on a day to day basis. Observing others gripped in "two-valued orientation", for instance, enables you to help them "see" a third possibility - and beyond - in life where they might be stopped or gripped because of the two-valued orientation.

This book is not simply an exposition about semantics. It offers the reader pragmatic new ways to "listen" to what is being said/read; to distinguish empty rhetoric from purposeful speech. If you are a CIO, analyst, or a knowledge professional dealing with large amounts of information, ambiguity, and diversified sources (people who speak different professional languages), the book offers various categories and distinctions to think with in order to act effectively in challenging situations and offer value in tough communication. It surely helped me with my work, business, and career.

I highly recommend reading, then studying, then keeping this book as reference for anyone whose profession and success depends on virtuosity in language: Writers, business analysts, executives, business owners, marketing professionals, screenwriters ...

Comment 5 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

LibertarianReview

A CLASSIC BOOK ON THE ORIGINS OF ENGLISH AS WE SEE IT IN POPULAR THOUGHT

June 26, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

S I Hayakawa's Language In Thought and Action is a classic and respected by those in academia who are interested in the origin of the English language. It probably is not of interest to the average reader. Some of the chapter headings are: Language And Survival, The Society Behind Our Symbols, The Two Valued Orientation. This book is divided into 2 sections--THE FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE and LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT. It has an index and an extensive bibliography. This book has been a popular collectors item, that is, the original blue bound book. It has been revised and reprinted as you will see on Amazon. I could not give it 5 stars because it is a difficult book to read, however many readers will get some enjoyment of a classic book known the world over...

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Fuquafalcon

Essential Reading for Anyone Interested in Politics, Writing, Semantics, or Logic

September 4, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

For me, this book is near-scriptural because it packs so much truth into such a small space. This book will help you understand how you think and how you use language, and why people talk past each other and disagree about important topics. It explains in entertaining detail many of the fallacies and traps we all fall prey to, and some of the conditions of modern life that make them more pervasive. This is one of those books that will make you wonder how you could live so long without realizing such important and simple things. If you want to examine your own thinking and root out errors--if you want to inject additional rationality into your political beliefs--if you want to raise your immunity to advertising and misleading propaganda--or if you want to write and think more precisely, this book is invaluable.

Comment 9 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

LaMonte Heflick

Map of the Inner/Outer World

March 25, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is what the World Needs -awareness. What is reality? What is "out there/in here?" And what belongs to the World of Words? The "map in our heads" should fit the "territory," i.e. the world/life.
To understand this is to live a better "sane" life.

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Amazon Customer

LANGUAGE IN THOUGHT AND ACTION SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR EVERYONE

January 29, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Language in Thought and Action is a book that I have read every few years since I first read it as preparation for attending law school in the early '80s.

I bought these two copies as gifts for two friends who are attending seminary.

I think Language in Thought and Action should be required reading for everyone. It explores, deconstructs and explains how we communicate.

It helps us to better understand others and others to better understand us through better communication.

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Reads Ceaselessly

this book will guide you to far greater facility with the English language

February 15, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I owned a previous edition of this book 40 years ago, but I wore it out. If you are at all interested in deepening your understanding of how we use English and how to use the English language with greater elegance and precision, this is the book for you

CommentWas this review helpful to you?

Yes

Genevieve Gertrude

Just as relevant now as the day it was first published

December 10, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is even better to the adult me than it was to me when I was a college undergrad. Hayakawa wrote it to alert readers to the language of propaganda. In the current political climate all Americans should read it, with attention.

Comment 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

Customer images

See all customer images

Most recent customer reviews

Dissident212

Five Stars

This book helped my anxiety-ridden self to interface with society. It moves me to persist.

Published 4 months ago

Warren

Five Stars

This wa my text book in freshman College. Still valid!

Published 4 months ago

Arona K Henderson

Great book

Published 6 months ago

frankly62

Read This!

If you want to understand how the US got ourselves into this mess, read this book.

Published 7 months ago

MICHELLE DOWNIE

Five Stars

Very helpful in writing letter!

Published 7 months ago

Amber G.

Fascinating read!

I needed this book for class but found it so interesting that I'm keeping it to share with friends!

Published 7 months ago

angel w.

Five Stars

Great book, came in perfect new condition

Published 12 months ago

Amazon Customer

awesome

Awesome book! Fully met my expectations aboit it.. Suggesting this book to all who want to know more about peoples communications problem

Published 1 year ago

Amazon Customer

Great book and quality paper

Great book and quality paper.
Semantics is where it's at if you are looking for a different perspective on things.Read more

Published 1 year ago

GilroyGal

I owned this book in my college days 50 years ...

I owned this book in my college days 50 years ago. And lost it in the many moves and lives' tribulations. Now I have it back again, and with pleasure.

Published 1 year ago

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway

This item: Language in Thought and Action: Fifth Edition

Set up a giveaway