Melody Murray's Books

I am not a linguist, so a fair bit of this book sailed over my head. However, the parts I understood were fascinating, as were the anthropological parts. Everett went to live with the Pirahã as a missionary and a linguist. He wanted to convert them and learn their grammar. What ensued is riveting though not particularly well-written. Everett seems to be saying that a large portion of what Chomsky says and the linguistic community has accepted as true for quite some time may not be true, and the entire discipline of linguistics will be turned on its ear if his claims are verifiable. I love science in the field, especially when it goes against everything we think we know. I really enjoyed reading about Everett's interior journey from missionary to atheist as well. It's a rare, and to my eye, admirable missionary who allows himself to be converted by the tribe he meddles with.Highly recommended for people who like this sort of thing.