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RSA ANIMATE: Language as a Window into Human Nature

Royal Society of Arts · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Language & linguisticsPsychology & human behavior

What it is

An RSA Animate in which Steven Pinker explains how the mind builds infinite meanings from finite language, and why people often speak indirectly. It covers ambiguity, politeness and mutual knowledge, including the emperor's new clothes example.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN recommends it as a short, clear explanation of why people avoid saying things explicitly and how common knowledge works socially and politically.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2011, last 2022

What HN commenters said

  1. “this wonderful RSA Animate of Steve Pinker's discussion of how we use language”

    Pinker on why we use ambiguous language, relevant to polite ritual like taarof.

    vanderZwan, 2015-06 · Strong recommendation · in “Taarof”

  2. “talks about why this type of communication is essential to free societies and why freedom of assembly is protected in all free societies”

    Pinker explains why shared communication matters for free societies and assembly.

    dbuxton, 2011-08 · Recommendation · in “Randi Zuckerberg Runs in the Wrong Direction on Pseudonymity Online”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: steven pinker, indirect speech, common knowledge, language, rsa animate

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