Von webenden Spinnen, sumsenden Bienen und sprechenden Menschen: Steven Pinkers Sprachinstinkt

Abstract

Steven Pinker's The Language Instinct has captured the attention of those outside of the field of linguistics, proving to be a world-wide success. Through a critical commentary of the book, the article presents Pinker's understanding of language. Arguing against a conception of language that treats language as a cultural artefact, Pinker combines Chomsky's theory of language with Darwinism. By returning to Johann Gottfried Herder, the author reproaches Pinker for fundamentally missing language – language as an interplay of biology and culture.