[ESL Weblog] Steven Pinker on Language & Thought

[Tdol]

just posted the following entry:

Steven Pinker on Language & Thought


I've just found the following video in which Steven Pinker looks at language, and the way it expresses the workings of our minds. By analysing common sentences and words, he shows us how, in what we say and how we say it, we're communicating much more than we realise.

Click here to read the full article

[ian2]

Originally Posted by Tdol

just posted the following entry:

Steven Pinker on Language & Thought


I've just found the following video in which Steven Pinker looks at language, and the way it expresses the workings of our minds. By analysing common sentences and words, he shows us how, in what we say and how we say it, we're communicating much more than we realise.

Click here to read the full article

Thanks, Tdol. This is great. I remember this Harvard guy had an intellectual confrontation with Lakoff in an article. Really want to hear what he says about language in general.

[Veron1]

Thanks Tdol for this video

Here are some examples he gave and people laughed at but I couldn't understand why did they laugh
Steven says that there is another intention or meaning in these sentences.
Well, I didn't get the point,Tdol
Examples:
1- I was just thinking that may be we could take care of it here in Fargo.
2- If you could pass the guacamole,that would be owesome.
3- Would you like to come up and see my etchings

Please Tdol explain me what is the very meaning which makes the audience laugh

Thanks in advance

I.A

[Tdol]

1 Far too much hedging and hesitation- was just + maybe + could- three tentative expressions.
2 Awesome- over the top, exaggerated expression for such a small favour
3 This sentence has a sexual undertone- it implies that person is inviting the other into their house to do one thing, while they are planning a seduction.

[Veron1]

Got it!

Thank you Tdol

I.A

[PROESL]

Originally Posted by Tdol

just posted the following entry:

Steven Pinker on Language & Thought


I've just found the following video in which Steven Pinker looks at language, and the way it expresses the workings of our minds. By analysing common sentences and words, he shows us how, in what we say and how we say it, we're communicating much more than we realise.

Click here to read the full article

Did you know about this one, too?

YouTube - Authors@Google: Steven Pinker

I just stumbled upon it. I haven't watched it yet, but I'll bet it's good.

PROESL out.

One to beam up, Scotty.

[anupumh]

Originally Posted by PROESL

Did you know about this one, too?

YouTube - Authors@Google: Steven Pinker

I just stumbled upon it. I haven't watched it yet, but I'll bet it's good.

PROESL out.

One to beam up, Scotty.

You can watch and download the video from the TED website.

what do you mean by beam up?

One to beam up, Scotty

What are the other usages of beam up?

Thanks

[BobK]

Originally Posted by anupumh

...
what do you mean by beam up?

One to beam up, Scotty

What are the other usages of beam up?

Thanks

This is a reference to the Star Trek line 'Beam me up, Scotty'. In the early days of the programme, because of the potential expense of all the special effects needed to show space ships docking/loading/unloading in various environments, the writers came up with the brilliant idea of 'beaming' - transporting people along an invisible and all-penetrating beam. The image of the transferee just dissolved, and in the next scene - back on the ship - the image reappeared. ''Scotty' was the starship Enterprise's engineer.

Note: not being a Trekkie (= fan of Star Trek) I've probably left several nits to pick (like 'The words were never said - like "Play it again, Sam" and "Elementary, my dear Watson"', 'Scotty wasn't just engineer he was Chief Engineer' ... that sort of thing. But the gist is right.

b

[PROESL]

Originally Posted by BobK

This is a reference to the Star Trek line 'Beam me up, Scotty'. In the early days of the programme, because of the potential expense of all the special effects needed to show space ships docking/loading/unloading in various environments, the writers came up with the brilliant idea of 'beaming' - transporting people along an invisible and all-penetrating beam. The image of the transferee just dissolved, and in the next scene - back on the ship - the image reappeared. ''Scotty' was the starship Enterprise's engineer.

Note: not being a Trekkie (= fan of Star Trek) I've probably left several nits to pick (like 'The words were never said - like "Play it again, Sam" and "Elementary, my dear Watson"', 'Scotty wasn't just engineer he was Chief Engineer' ... that sort of thing. But the gist is right.

b

And it's now available on the Internet.

Hulu - Search