Shireids is a powerful way of talking about how language develops. It relies on what the person who is watching this array, and what you're playing with, as well as the person talking. When we are trying to evoke images or ideas in other people's head, that's exactly what we're doing when we're playing Shireids. No Chomsky is really the father of generative linguistics, the dominant approach to linguistics. And since the 50s argues that language is not primarily for communication, it's primarily for thinking.
Morten Christiansen is Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and Nick Chater is Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. Together, they've written The Language Game, a new book which explores the science and psychology of language and some of its mysteries too. Hosting the discussion is journalist Christine Ro, whose work covers areas ranging from science and culture to international development.
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