Book SummaryThe Language Instinct, by Steven Pinker

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Language Instinct

In The Language Instinct, Steven Pinker argues that language is an innate, biological ability in humans—not just an element of human culture that gets passed from person to person. Pinker contends that just like the chameleon’s ability to camouflage itself or the falcon’s high-speed flight, the ability to produce and interpret complex language is an evolved human superpower.

Pinker aims to inspire readers to appreciate the unique qualities of human language. He also advocates a functional approach to grammar. Contrary to those who believe that we should maintain language conventions to preserve quality and tradition, Pinker asserts that if a new slang term or speech pattern helps people communicate nuanced ideas, then it enhances language rather than diminishes it.

Pinker is an...

The Language Instinct Summary How Language Works

To begin, we’ll describe the elements of human language that make it both complex and precise. Pinker writes that to understand the basics of human language, we must first understand its infinite combinatorial system—the characteristic that lets us transform a finite number of sounds into infinite sentences based on a set of grammar rules called syntax. We’ll also explain the physical mechanics of speaking and the neurological processing that enables people to interpret speech.

Infinite Combinatorial System

Pinker writes that the infinite combinatorial system in human language is an underappreciated design element: It’s ingenious because it enables endless creative expressions based on a relatively small set of basic units. (Shortform note: Zellig Harris was the first linguistic researcher to describe the “discrete combinatorial system” in language, although Pinker was the first to use this exact phrasing. Discrete combinatorial systems also occur in other areas, such as music, which uses a set of notes and rhythmic notation to create complex musical compositions.)

**The elements of this system include phonemes,...

The Language Instinct Summary Language Is Biologically Innate

Now that we’ve explored why human language is a highly sophisticated form of communication, we’ll explain Pinker’s underlying argument that language is a biologically derived skill and not something that is purely learned from the environment. He elaborates on this theory by asserting that there are universal elements of grammar in all languages and by explaining that language is an evolutionary adaptation.

Pinker also points out medical cases where people lose their language skills but not other high-level cognitive functions, and vice versa. He suggests that these medical conditions demonstrate that there must be some language-specific physical structures in the brain.

Language Is an Evolved Trait

Pinker writes that language is a genetic adaptation that arose from natural selection in early human communities. He says that language could have started evolving four to seven million years ago, although it’s unclear if Neanderthals (an extinct human subspecies) had language. Pinker suggests that random genetic variation might have enabled some humans to express themselves with more nuance than before, and then people with this skill were more likely to survive...

The Language Instinct Summary Why Children Are Linguistic Geniuses

Pinker’s theory of language as biologically innate provides a key insight in the field of linguistics: It explains why children have the ability to rapidly acquire language. Pinker also claims that the ability of children to spontaneously create new languages further supports his theory of biological language skills.

Children Acquire Language Quickly

By the time children are two or three years old, they can often speak in fully grammatical sentences. Pinker emphasizes the magnitude of this feat—especially children’s ability to memorize the meanings of words and apply them in novel sentence structures according to internalized rules. He asserts that children produce language with the help of innate language skills, like recognizing patterns in syntax, and not just by mimicking exactly what they’ve heard before. Children also expand their vocabulary exponentially, learning an average of one new word every two hours through their adolescence.

(Shortform note: Critics of Pinker argue for an alternative understanding of why children acquire language quickly: the [usage-based...

The Language Instinct Summary Why We Should Embrace Language Innovation

Pinker also uses his language theory to explain why people should generally be open to changing language conventions. As explained in the previous sections, Pinker contends that language evolved in humans because of its usefulness for social cohesion and cooperation. Therefore, if the purpose of language is to help people communicate ideas clearly, then people will naturally make modifications to language in pursuit of the goal. This more functional approach to language is considered “descriptive” as opposed to the “prescriptive” approach, which focuses on defining rules for how language should be used.

For example, the word “hangry,” a relatively recent addition to dictionaries,...

Shortform Exercise: Embrace Language Innovation

Pinker takes a functional approach to language, arguing that its purpose is to help people communicate ideas clearly, and people naturally modify language to communicate better. Therefore, we should be open to new language conventions. Use these exercises to explore the potential benefits of adapting to new modes of language.

Write down a few recently invented words or slang terms that you use regularly, but that aren’t considered suitable for academic or more formal writing. For example, “YOLO,” “situationship,” or expressions like “That movie gave me all the feels,” and “My dog has the zoomies.”