19 February 2011

On Language as a Window into Human Nature (Pinker)

Another of the excellent RSA animations based on a talk by Steven Pinker:



...one of the few attempts I've encountered to engage with the issues raised by Watzlawick et al. (1967) in what they called (in those days) the "analogue" and "digital" aspects of communication. I made a clumsy attempt to articulate some of my thinking in the field here. I'd really like to get more into it, but I suspect that it is one of those areas where the vocabulary has been re-invented time and again by isolated researchers and writers, such that there is little by way of a community in which it can be discussed. Anyone out there who can offer any pointers? Suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks to Mind Hacks for the pointer.

2 comments:

  1. Not exactly a pointer but related and interesting nonetheless: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9wHttUayMo

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  2. Thanks, Jim. Note to anyone who follows Jim's link--bear with the appalling camerawork and stick with it for at least three minutes.

    And the generator to which Ariely refers is probably http://www.elsewhere.org/pomo/

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