Representation of Language

Reviews / Votes

Combining philosophy of mind, cognitive psychology, and psycholinguistics, Rey offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary theory of linguistic competence and its basis in the makeup of the human mind. * K. Liu, CHOICE * This long-awaited book distills years of deep engagement with the most important foundational and philosophical questions raised by linguistics and the cognitive sciences. Overflowing with sharp observations and original ideas, it's a must-read for philosophers and scientists alike interested in innateness, intentionality, computational explanation, and methodology in the mind-brain sciences. * Steven Gross, Professor of Philosophy, Cognitive Science, and Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University * This book is vital reading for anyone interested in Chomsky's revolution in linguistics and what it has meant for our understanding of the human mind. It is both an invaluable guide to the impact of Chomsky's work on philosophy and a very considerable original contribution to the field. It is rigorous (Rey has done his homework on the linguistics thoroughly), fair-minded (to Chomsky and to his critics), and contentious. Rey writes vividly and has a gift for going to the essence of an argument. * Nicholas Allott, University of Oslo and University College London * Rey's volume is both an excellent introduction to the foundations of generative linguistics and perhaps the most sustained contemporary engagement with the many philosophical nuances of Chomsky's own position. Where Rey agrees with Chomsky, he offers novel considerations in support, and where he disagrees, his points are unfailingly insightful and well-informed. It is an utterly admirable volume, from which the student and the expert have much to learn. * Professor John Collins, University of East Anglia. * In this book, Georges Rey offers a solid and thought-provoking discussion of a range of foundational issues in Chomskyan linguistics. The book will influence and engage linguists and philosophers alike, hopefully enriching cross-disciplinary conversations in the future. * Terje Lohndal, Norwegian University of Science and Technology & The Arctic University of Norway * In this rollicking ride through the philosophy of Chomskian linguistics, Georges Rey argues for the centrality of the notion of representation, and makes a startling proposal for what it is that the claims of linguistic theories represent, and what the wider implications are for psychology more generally. Original, intellectually fun, and, for a linguist, enjoyably contentious, this is a great read * David Adger, Queen Mary University of London. *