Caleb Everett

Although the subtitle promises a look at "How Languages Reveal Differences in How We Think," the author is far more interested in the languages themselves—particularly the Karitiâna language of the Amazon that he knows well—than in the differences in human experience that they may reflect. Despite a more engaging style than an academic author usually has at his command, this remains a somewhat dry tome disinclined to speculation of how language intersects with consciousness. The Whorf show more hypothesis, which I would think would influence vast sections of a book like this (whether positively or negatively), doesn't even rate an index entry. "I have no wish to revisit this hypothesis, nor the many debates it has sparked...in fields like linguistics, anthropology, and philosophy." Yes, it's certainly a hot-button topic. But it leaves the author in the position of an expert on evolution who refuses to discuss competing theories of natural selection. Bottom line: this book is too much the product of a scientific linguist, unwilling to speculate where data is missing or confusing. show less

I read this book and wrote this review for a school project on language learners in the libraries. My original review can be viewed here: Language Learners in the Library

This book discusses the many differences between languages and how they impact how people interpret the world around them. Focusing predominately on the Indigenous languages of the Amazonian area, Everett describes the linguistic differences in aspects like grammar, time interpretation, direction interpretation, and sound. show more He then goes on to describe each of these differences and how they influence how people think about the world around them.

This is an important resource for anyone working with language learners, as it shows just how complex languages really are. It shows how sometimes, miscommunications with someone who speaks a different language can be caused by completely different ways of viewing the world. It also shows how each of these differences are unique and valuable perspectives to add to the global understanding of how language and culture interact and shape one another. I would be remiss to not point out the translation error when discussing familial relationship terms in Mandarin, but this book does so much more when looking at it from the bigger picture. By examining how language and culture interact, the reader can gain a bigger appreciation for linguistic differences and the challenges someone faces when they learn a language. show less