Linguistics Book Reviews Samples For Students

All those who work in the field of linguistics or related subjects must be aware of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, language shapes our thoughts, it influences our culture and the way we see the world. This idea became very popular and led to the belief that there are as many worldviews as there are languages. However, John H. McWhorter, in his book “The Language Hoax: Why the World Looks the same in any Language” has disproved the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; he posits that language reflects culture and the speaker’s worldview; it offers a cultural viewpoint of the ...

Book Review: Rez Life by David Treuer

This review of Rez Life by David Treuer focuses much on its substance as a model piece of cultural protection of Indians living in reservations in the US. Victimization and involvement of Indians in criminal activities have emerged due to lack of protection within their reservations and the consequence negative influence coming from mainstream US. At the same time, the ambiguity expressed by Treuer in the last part of the story could possibly signify a practical response to the problems raised in the review.

Introduction

Indian reservations are among the most protected territories within the United States (US). The US extends its ...

The encompassing theme of the book is the practice of teaching foreign languages at schools or to a community. Byram first defines the basic purposes of teaching a foreign language, and then uses research conducted across various countries in order to provide data to back up his theories. He theorizes that due to the globalized world, it has become more vital for people to know different languages, and his basic message is that foreign language teachers are vitally important for the advancement of society. He pulls most of his research on Europe, which has encouraged vast intercultural knowledge due ...

The book “Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching” by Diane Larsen-Freeman is devoted to different methods and approaches of language teaching which can be useful for teachers of foreign languages. According to the author, the book should also make its readers think about the approach to language teaching more and finally work out their own unique method or a set of methods which will accord to their personal beliefs and convictions regarding language teaching. In order to present the book as a useful instrument in teaching, the author also provides a system of techniques which can be implemented in ...

Introduction

“Sailing the Wine Dark-Sea: why the Greeks Matter” is the fourth volume of exploration by the great author Thomas Cahill. The author uses his unfathomable skill in literature and historical experience to take his readers to another world of both entertainment and extreme coverage of historical knowledge. In this book, he tags a wide range of historical unassailable features of the Greek by clearly holding an in-depth narration of the journey covered through the landmarks of art and intense bloodshed that lay the Greek culture in a historical legacy in an estimated period of nearly three millennia ago.

It is ...

The book developed from the introductory stages of Muslim taught in the Universities in religious studies lessons. In an attempt to understand the Islamic concepts, it tries to explain the principles in simple and familiar language. Form the onset, Islam has been a difficult subject to present to students especially those who emanate form other cultures. It is harder to teach Islam in learning institutions as a result of the cultural diversity. Sachiko asserts that Islam is best understood by individuals who have been born and raised in Islamic backgrounds.
The book focuses on what Islam has brought of its ...

Why did Dr. Snowdon choose a population of nuns for his study of Alzheimer's disease and aging?

It is prudent to note that the author of the book aging with grace had a very bright brilliant idea in his attempt to study the health of the religious population catholic nuns. He therefore chooses to study the health patterns of this population because at that time every member of that population was being subjected to the same access to health care, same living situation and for the above all the same income status. Therefore, for the sake of uniformity, the author found this population interesting to study because the population was subjected to almost uniform conditions. He therefore ...

Vernacular Eloquence

Introduction
The HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the newly appointed Saudi Arabian ambassador to the United States, advised students taking scholarships in the US to be good representatives of their country abroad and also urged them to not only focus on their academic but also to reach out to the American community and experience the American culture. He, however, reiterated that challenges are expected to be encountered while on their studies abroad but exhorted them that the American people are hospitable and simple with a great thirst for knowledge. He put emphasis that sending Saudi students to the US was ...

The book by Michael Byram “From Foreign Language Education to Education for Intercultural Citizenship: Essays and Reflections” is devoted to learning foreign languages in terms of culture at primary school. Language learning without cultural dimension is believed to cause danger, since children would use it to encode their own world, with no experience of “otherness”. Teaching is determined by social, political, and economic position of the society. According to the author, internationalization and globalization leave an impact on the educational sphere, and language teaching methodology requires revision, with consideration of intercultural competence. On the other hand, language learning is ...

The epistolary novel by Charles de Secondat baron de Montesquieu, the “Persian Letters” gives a reflection of the eighteenth century society. It is therefore a critical primary source in regard to eighteenth century history considering the major changes of historical significance that were taking place at the time. One such change was the dawn of the age of enlightenment also referred to as the age of reason. The historical perspective of the novel may be lost because of Montesquieu’s extensive use of satire. However, it is intended to draw the attention of the reader towards the primary themes ...

Van Lier’s ecological approach examines the learning process holistically by looking at the behavior of teachers and learners. The author places emphasis on the interaction between the two as way of enhancing the use of language. This approach explores the interaction in social, physical and symbolic level. The Ecology and Semiotics of the Language Learning by Van Lier offers a detailed overview of the ecology of the learning of language. It encompasses various concepts such as semiotics, self, emergence and pragmatic effects of an ecological view regarding the use of language in the classroom. Also, Van Lier’s ...

Book review – Men are from Mars, women are from Venus

Introduction
“Men are from mars, women are from Venus” is a user’s guide for married couples to understand each other better, and transform their differences to complement each other to enjoy their long journey together as man and wife. John Gray, renowned relationship counselor and the author of the book, views men and women as having inherently dissimilar values and views about life. In marriage people often expect the opposite sex to be more like themselves. Each desires the other to want the same thing and feel the same way. For example, the husband takes for granted that ...

Book Review:

Baron, Naomi. Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World. New York: Oxford
“Language in an Online and Mobile World” by Naomi Baron is a thought-provoking book on the way that language changes in the online and mobile world. It also tells us the ways in which the new technologies affect and influence our speaking and writing. She tells us that there many ways this could happen, but that it is not what we would expect. There is more to language and the online and mobile world than what we think and Naomi Baron writes about this well.
...

Self-Discovery and Ministry

- Synopsis
The book Personal Power through Awareness by Sanaya Roman is one of the best-sellers books internationally. Despite the book being published in the 1980s, the message that is presented in this book remains relevant today. The message is timeless and continues to appeal to many readers in modern day. In fact, this book has been translated to approximately twenty four languages around the world. This indicates the importance and the timelessness of the information that is presented by Sanaya Roman in this book. Roman has over the years updated some of the key themes in this ...

Summary of the Art of War by Sun Tzu

The Art of War highlights several ideal points which could easily be used in the process of risk management and military capabilities. It is one of the finest books written on military treatise that has been translated from the Chinese languages into various other languages globally. This book by Sun Tzu remained anonymous to England till the 1872 and entered the scene when a French priest with the name of Joseph Amiot, who was residing in China, translated it.

However, the translation was poorly produced. Nevertheless, in 1908, Capt. Callthrop re-wrote it. He came up with a better piece of this ...