Description
Book Synopsis"The Language Impact" is a transdisciplinary book which looks at language from the point of view of its effect on the world. The appearance of language on our planet is similar to a natural event with far-reaching consequences for the evolution of the human species, the language system and discourse. The author shows in detail with many examples to what extent language has had and still has a strong effect on individuals, societies and the earth in general from the first bonding talk 30,000 years ago to the effects of the internet in the 21st century A.D. The book serves as a comprehensive and cutting-edge survey of this emerging field, covering a wide variety of topics including the phylogeny of language, Linguistic Relativity (Sapir/Whorf) and Linguistic Constructivism, Cognitive Linguistics as well as Critical Discourse Analysis and Discourse Strategies.
Trade Review'As a comprehensive survey of what must be top of the agenda for any socially and environmentally committed linguist or student of linguistics, this book is second to none.' Professor Andrew Goatly, Department of English, Lingnan University, Hong Kong 'The breadth of humanities disciplines covered in the book is phenomenal: philosophers, (social) psychologists, humorologists, sociologists, discourse analysts of every possible hue, psychotherapists, not to mention innumerable linguists, hyphenated or otherwise, perform on his adroitly erected stage. The diverse scholarly sources tapped and incorporated into this well argued book are very aptly chosen. The overall rhythm and chain of argument together with the examples and quotations given to illustrate the phenomenon of language and discourse's variegated impact are extremely persuasive. Both beginning students of language and linguistics and also common readers will be able to benefit from its not inconsiderable insights and erudition, as well as committed fellow researchers.' Professor Richard Alexander, Wirtschafts Universitat Wien
Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I The Impact of Speech on a Planet - a 'Meteorite' Hits the Earth 1. The Phylogeny of Language 2. Functional Models of Language 3. Religion, Philosophy and Language Impact Theories Part II The Impact of Language as a System 1. Language as energeia: Wilhelm v. Humboldt 2. Language, Thought, Reality 3. The 'Linguistic Seduction' of Thought: Critique of Language (Bacon, Locke, Hume, Berkeley / Cassirer, Mauthner, Kainz) 4. General Semantics (Korzybski, Hayakawa, Stuart Chase) 5. Linguistic Constructivism (Michael Halliday etc.) 6. Cognitive Linguistics: the Impact of Metaphor and Frame 7. Summary (Part II) Part III The Impact of Discourse on the World 1. Language as Discourse 2. Precursors of Pragmatics 3. Pragmatics 4. Further Topic Areas in Pragmatics 5. The Impact of Texts 6. Discourse Ethics (Habermas, Apel) and Dialogue 7. Discourse Strategies 8. Critical Discourse Analysis: Language, Ideology and Power (Fairclough) 9. Women, Men and Discourse 10. Interaction between Language and World (Ecological Linguistics) 11. Language Combined with Other Modes and Media Summary: Expansion and Limitation Appendix I: Glossary of Terms Appendix II: Commented List of Thinkers on Language Impact
