An inability to communicate has little to do with international friction-as is seen in the special ferocity of wars fought between people who speak the same language.

Gestures and facial expressions do indeed communicate, as anyone can prove by turning off the sound on a television set and asking watchers to characterize the speakers from the picture alone.

An inability to communicate has little to do with international friction-as is seen in the special ferocity of wars fought between people who speak the same language.

A complex society is not necessarily more advanced than a simple one; it has just adapted to conditions in a more complicated way.

Speakers who have grown up in the American community unconsciously know its rules about taking turns in conversations-in the same way that they know the rules of grammar and the rules about appropriate speech in various situations.

In place of science, the Eskimo has only magic to bridge the gap between what he can understand and what is not known. Without magic, his life would be one long panic.

Language does not stand still. Surprisingly, despite this knowledge, most speakers are fearful of change.