Don't Believe a Word

The Surprising Truth About Language

Ranked #92 in Translation

Think you know language? Think again.

There are languages that change when your mother-in-law is present.
The language you speak could make you more prone to accidents.
Swear words are produced in a special part of your brain.

Over the past few decades, we have reached new frontiers of linguistic knowledge. Linguists can now explain how and why language changes, describe its structures, and map its activity in the brain. But despite these advances, much of what people believe about language is based on folklore, instinct, or hearsay. We imagine a word’s origin...
more

Similar Books

If you like Don't Believe a Word, check out these similar top-rated books:


Learn: What makes Shortform summaries the best in the world?