Thought-based Linguistics: How Languages Turn Thoughts into Sounds

Wallace Chafe presents a thought-based theory of language that goes beyond traditional views that semantics, syntax, and sounds are sufficient to account for language design. He suggests ways of describing thoughts, tracing the path languages follow from thoughts to sounds, and exploring how thoughts are oriented in time, memory, imagination, reality, and emotions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 209 pages
Publication date: 17 September 2020
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Language, a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, has long been a subject of intense debate across various disciplines, including linguistics, psychology, philosophy, and more. In this comprehensive study, Wallace Chafe presents a thought-based theory of language that challenges traditional perspectives that solely rely on semantics, syntax, and sounds to explain language design. According to Chafe, language originates in the mind of a speaker and ultimately impacts the thoughts of a listener. This fundamental observation, however, is often overlooked in descriptions of language design, primarily due to two significant factors. Firstly, semantics often takes center stage, overshadowing the role of thought in language creation. However, it is important to note that semantic structures are imposed on thought by languages and vary across different linguistic systems. Secondly, the nature of thought poses challenges to traditional linguistic analysis methods.

To address these challenges, Chafe offers insightful ways of describing thoughts, tracing the path languages follow from thoughts to sounds, and exploring the orientation of thoughts in time, memory, imagination, reality, and emotions. Through his theoretical framework, Chafe seeks to shed light on the intricate relationship between language and the mind, offering a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes underlying language production and comprehension.

This study not only contributes to our understanding of language but also has broader implications for fields such as cognitive science, psychology, and philosophy. By exploring the interplay between thought and language, Chafe's thought-based theory provides a framework for understanding the nature of human communication, cognition, and the evolution of language. As we continue to unravel the complexities of language, this study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and scholars alike.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108431569