The Concept of Language (Noam Chomsky)

Why HN readers recommended it

Recommended in threads on language purity and standardization for its clear take that languages are fluid and that national languages are constructed.

This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.

Video & recommendation details

Creator / channel

UW Video

Topic

linguistics

Format

interview

Level

general

HN recommenders in dataset

3

HN mentions in dataset

5

Recommendation years in dataset

2021–2024

These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.

From the original HN conversations

Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.

• "Learning" is also a noun [1] - which can be plural, so I'd say the creator of those comments has some learnings to make. More generally, though, being a grammar nazi is silly. Dictionaries are defined by the common use of language and language is …

• Yes, the concept of nationalism and national language is a modern phenomenon. It is helpful in having subjects treat their governments as correct and moral by default and develop a distrust of their neighbors. Noam chomsky has an informative interview. He seems to think the …

• I love this old interview. If you skip to the very last question at 26:50, it is a little bit poignant, considering this news. [VIDEO]