Chapter 8 discusses the intricacies and the importance of language and how it develops. It then goes on to discuss how people think and reason. Language is something that is often over rated for many people. We take for granted just how necessary and amazing this skill is. A question is apparent when you look at these parts of language. How did it all start? Scientists have debated this thought for a long time. Some argue that it was simply the development of more complex social situations that required something, i.e. language, to get their thoughts across clearly to one another. They also wonder when is the best time to learn language is. We have all heard that it is easier to learn multiple languages as a child. Scientists are trying to find the time in development that is most accommodating for learning multiple languages.
Humans naturally and instinctively think heuristically. We think and reason using problem solving skills and decision making skills. We observe the outside world, internalize it, store the knowledge, and are able to come back at a later time and reason with ourselves and think through certain situations. There are several different models. One of them is to think of the brain as a computer or machine. The information goes in, runs algorithms, and spits out an answer. While theories exist about just how exactly the brain works, we may still be far away from a clear, universal model.
The most interesting part of language for me was how it develops in different parts of the world with different people. The example about how Inuits have hundreds of different words for snow was striking to me. For someone who speaks English, the idea that some people are able to communicate with far less sophisticated sounds was tough for me to wrap my head around, but would be interesting to experience.