[1]

Yesterday

ah, all that business seems so far away! :D — So what do I recommend for “summer reading”? How about [2] Groundswell? I am happy that MWJV has received a personalized copy of this book ( via the very influential [3] Susan Bratton ;) ! OK, before you start calling me a shill, let me explain why I think you should read Charlene Li’s book.

I agree

( First of all: note I haven’t read all of the book yet — and so if you would like to read it for me and then tell me what you think of it, then please: be my guest! ;)

But second of all, I have read and been inspired by Ms. Li’s work over the years, and especially (third of all): [4] Charlene’s interview with Susan was very interesting and insightful ( and maybe even a little revealing ;)…. The crux of Mrs. Li’s research lies at the intersection of people with technology — and this is basically what language is all about (indeed: it is very closely related to issues raised in the [5] Wisdom of the Language article) — language is the technology we use to communicate how we understand the world we live in (and [according to Chomsky] it’s actually deeply intertwined with our nature [as human beings] — in other words: language is the quintessential “hermeneutic tool”).

The reason why I am eager to read Charlene’s book is to learn more about the those aspects of the intersection of people and technology which are apparently independent of language (and many of these, I feel, may very well be addressed in the book). Currently the book is making its rounds through the office, and I have already set it on my “Indian Summer” reading list — and I look forward to poring over all of the nitty-gritty details!