If Noam Chomsky were to write readable books, this one would be the result. The originator of the fashionable (and usually little-understood) concept of "deep structures" in language and an innate Universal Grammar among all human populations would have to be pleased at this excellent exposition of his theories.

Steven Pinker has gone about his task in a most entertaining fashion, providing a text laced with examples of the particular grammatical, phonetic or linguistic points he is pursuing. At every step, the humour and interest of his examples -- ranging from Watergate tapes to nursery rhymes -- counterbalances and illustrates the serious technical issue he is pursuing.

Don't read this book alone -- it is almost impossible to get through a chapter without wanting to read parts of it out loud to an innocent bystander.

As for the main thesis -- that humans are born with an ability to "create" languages without outside assistance, and that underneath the myriad tongues on this planet lies a common archetypal pattern -- this non-linguist, at least, finds the evidence the author presents fairly convincing.

Peter Hyde, NZSM