Impossible Languages
Andrea Moro
Reading Time
at 250 WPM2h 40m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 2h 40m to read Impossible Languages.
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6
days at 30 min/day
160
total minutes
Impossible Languages
by Andrea Moro
Published
2023
Publisher
MIT Press
Pages
160
ISBN-13
9780262549233
Description
"Can there be such a thing as an impossible human language? A biologist could describe an impossible animal as one that goes against the physical laws of nature (entropy, for example, or gravity). Are there any such laws that constrain languages? In this book, Andrea Moro -- a distinguished linguist and neuroscientist -- investigates the possibility of impossible languages, searching, as he does so, for the indelible fingerprint of human language. Moro shows how the very notion of impossible languages has helped shape research on the ultimate aim of linguistics: to define the class of possible human languages. He takes us beyond the boundaries of Babel, to the set of properties that, despite appearances, all languages share, and explores the sources of that order, drawing on scientific experiments he himself helped design. Moro compares syntax to the reverse side of a tapestry revealing a hidden and apparently intricate structure. He describes the brain as a sieve, considers the reality of (linguistic) trees, and listens for the sound of thought by recording electrical activity in the brain. Words and sentences, he tells us, are like symphonies and constellations: they have no content of their own; they exist because we listen to them and look at them. We are part of the data."--Book jacket.
Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in Impossible Languages?
This edition of Impossible Languages has approximately 160 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read Impossible Languages?
For most readers, Impossible Languages typically takes between 3h 20m and 2h 13m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 40,000 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 2h 40m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 6 days • Estimated word count: 40,000 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of Impossible Languages?
The estimated word count for Impossible Languages is approximately 40,000 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of Impossible Languages?
Impossible Languages was written by Andrea Moro.
When was Impossible Languages published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 2023. The original work may have been published on a different date.