Restoring to print two of Chomsky's most famous and popular books in one omnibus volume, On Language features some of the noted linguist and political critic's most informal and highly accessible work, making it an ideal introduction to his thought. In Part I, Language and Responsibility, Chomsky presents a fascinating self-portrait of his political, moral, and linguistic thinking. In Part II, Reflections on Language, Chomsky explores the more general implications of the study of language and offers incisive analyses of the controversies among psychologists, philosophers, and linguists over fundamental questions of language. "Language and Responsibility is a well-organized, clearly written, and comprehensive introduction to Chomsky's thought." -New York Times Book Review "Language and Responsibility brings together in one readable volume Chomsky's positions on issues ranging from politics and philosophy of science to recent advances in linguistic theory... The clarity of presentation at times approaches that of Bertrand Russell in his political and more popular philosophical essays." -Contemporary Psychology "Reflections on Language is profoundly satisfying and impressive. It is the clearest and most developed account of the case of universal grammar and of the relations between his theory of language and the innate faculties of mind responsible for language aquisition and use." -Patrick Flanagan

Contents -- Language and Responsibility -- Translator's Note -- Introductory Comment -- Part I. Linguistics and Politics -- 1. Politics -- 2. Linguistics and the Human Sciences -- 3. A Philosophy of Language? -- 4. Empiricism and Rationalism -- Part II. Generative Grammar -- 5. The Birth of Generative Grammar -- 6. Semantics -- 7. The Extended Standard Theory -- 8. Deep Structure -- 9. Universal Grammar and Unresolved Questions -- Notes -- Index -- Reflections on Language -- Preface -- Part I. The Whidden Lecture -- 1. On Cognitive Capacity -- 2. The Object of Inquiry -- 3. Some General Features of Language -- Part II. -- 4. Problems and Mysteries in the Study of Human Language -- Notes -- Bibliography