This video uploaded in 2005 expresses the way we as humans converse with each other through language. He speaks about how language emerges from human minds interacting, and how that by the time a new dictionary is made, it will already be out of date. Although it is 10 years old, I still think that Pinker's theories are relevant and apply to how we speak every day.
In this talk, he explores the ideas of verbs. He states that they are the frameworks onto which the other words are bolted, so without verbs, sentences and how we form them wouldn't be the same. One aspect that he goes into quite a lot of detail about is how we word sentences completely changes the meaning, even though we might not realise it, For example, saying "Sophie gave Jason a headache" would be completely different to "Sophie gave a headache to Jason". The second one implies that the headache physically moved from Sophie to go to Jason. So, when we look closer at words in a sentences, we find that technically it means something different.
Pinker also speaks about how metaphors are used generally, every day. For example, we would use travelling from space to space as a metaphor such as 'From Paris to London'. Using state as a metaphor, for example 'from sick to well' and lastly, time. 'The meeting went from three to four' is also a prime example that we don't actually realise we are using.
Another important point that I had never even thought about before is that language has two forms. The literal form is the safe way, using language that we are comfortable with to converse with people. And the implicated form, reading between the lines and implying a change in relationship with someone. Sometimes, when trying to break through the literal barrier, it can be awkward. This is because we misrepresent relationships between people. A perfect everyday example of this awkwardness is relationships between bosses and employees, and knowing what is acceptable to use in our language towards each other.
The main message we get from this speech is that we find common grounds between each other. We negotiate relationships in order to break through the literal and implicated barriers, even if we don't realise we are doing it. Furthermore, Pinker has come up with 5 factors that add up to human intelligence. Objects, space, time, causation and intention are what makes up our English language.
I have discovered that Pinker is a very talented theorist, and I will be looking forward to his next pieces of work.
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