Steven Pinker argues that language is not merely a cultural artifact but a biological instinct, akin to a spider's ability to spin webs. He emphasizes that language is a complex, specialized skill that develops in children spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction. Pinker states, 'Language is so tightly woven into human experience that it is scarcely possible to imagine life without it.' This perspective challenges the traditional view that language is purely a cultural invention and highlights the biological underpinnings of our linguistic abilities. | Steven Pinker | The Language Instinct

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Language as an Instinct

Steven Pinker argues that language is not merely a cultural artifact but a biological instinct, akin to a spider's ability to spin webs. He emphasizes that language is a complex, specialized skill that develops in children spontaneously, without conscious effort or formal instruction. Pinker states, 'Language is so tightly woven into human experience that it is scarcely possible to imagine life without it.' This perspective challenges the traditional view that language is purely a cultural invention and highlights the biological underpinnings of our linguistic abilities.

-- Steven Pinker