We all use language every day of our lives. Language, regardless of the particular dialect spoken, is the tool we use to express our wants, our needs, and our feelings. Recently, many experts who study language have become convinced by an idea about this remarkable human trait that was, only a few decades ago, utterly revolutionary. These experts believe that the capacity for spoken language and the rules for its structure are not cultural but universal—a set of rules shared by humans in every culture and that even may be hardwired into our brains. Moreover, these rules apply regardless of which of the world's 6,000 languages are being spoken. The 36 lectures of Understanding Linguistics: The Science of Language—taught by acclaimed linguist, author, and professor John McWhorter from Columbia University—are your opportunity to take a revealing journey through the fascinating terrain of linguistics. You focus on the scientific aspects of human language that were left out of any classes you may have taken in English or a foreign language, and you emerge from your journey with a newfound appreciation of the mysterious machinery built into all of us—an appreciation likely to surface time and again in your everyday life. Professor McWhorter explains and illustrates the critical elements and purposes of language, from its most basic building blocks to its uses as a nuanced social tool. You’ll also meet many of the individuals who have most influenced our scientific understanding of language. The business of linguists isn't policing language, correcting your grammar, or acting as a translator; instead, linguists devote themselves to the scientific study of human language.

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Store Description

Pigeonhouse Books is a private Dublin archive of the unusual and the hard-to-find. We specialise in bringing to market items that have never before appeared for sale to online book-lovers. Volumes such as low-circulation Irish local histories, programmes for seminal theatrical performances, influential 20th century political pamphlets, and important government and agency literature of enormous value to researchers have been dispatched to every corner of the globe with love and care from Dublin. Pigeonhouse Books also maintains a familiar and popular presence at local book fairs in Ireland, where some of the rarest and most interesting volumes from Irish history and literature are selected from our shelves. Customers often find it convenient to collect their orders from us at these events in person, where a rummage among our boxes and some book-chat are features of the book-fair scene. Details are announced in advance on www.pigeonhousebooks.com. Pigeonhouse Books was founded by journalist and historian Ruraidh Conlon O'Reilly and operates from the city centre of Dublin, UNESCO city of literature. It is in sight of the famous Pigeon House generating station, serving book-lovers, collectors and academia from a location with no shortage of friendly local pigeons.

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Pigeonhouse Books, Dublin
IE, Ireland

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Terms of Sale

Shipping turnaround is two days within receipt of your order. Refund period: 30 days at customers' expense unless item arrived damaged or there was an error on our end.

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Please see www.pigeonhousebooks.com for our latest information and book fair activity.

Pigeonhouse Books,
C/O Ruraidh Conlon O'Reilly
No. 22, 33-34 The Cutlers
Parliament Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

PigeonhouseBooksDublin@gmail.com
00-353-872964390

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Items shipped in padded envelopes unless otherwise specified.

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Shipping rates from Ireland to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from Ireland to U.S.A.
Order quantity	25 to 45 business days	8 to 14 business days
First item	US$ 17.03	US$ 20.61

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