Fallacies and Pitfalls of Language: The Language Trap

by S. Morris Engel

Witty, thought-provoking exploration of government newspeak, exaggerated advertising claims, propaganda and other misuses of language and how to combat them.
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Genres: Psychology, Writing, Nonfiction, Language

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An illuminating exposition of the argument that language is not "solely the instrument of thought" but rather "what makes thought possible in the first place", especially in regards to arguments and persuasion. With reference to fields such as sociolinguistics, logic, and psychology, Engel has convinced me to become much more aware of society's verbal minefield, and the ways in which those mine are planted daily by myself and others, unwittingly or not.

[Jeffrey Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although published in 1994, the message of this book remains relevant: one should be aware of the way people in power and people who want to sell you things use language in a manipulative and illogical way. Engel's style is a ponderous, but he offers excellent analyses of fallacious modes of speech, in the belief that if you see how you're being distracted from the truth, you'll resist bad arguments. Someone ought to bring out a revised edition with up to date examples and reference to social media. Engel clearly tried to be even-handed, finding examples of manipulative language on both the left and the right. I'd rather see a full-throttle attack on rightwing demagoguery. That's where today's threat comes from.

[Thân Trọng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to read this book

[Walter Ullon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is more of a book on persuasion of you ask me, and heavily padded too. Much better ones out there. See Cialdini's "Influence" and even better, Aronson's "Age of Propaganda".