[Marxism] Propositions on language

[Ratbag Radio]

Your list doesn't include any reference to Lev Vygotsky and Alexander Luria.

In my estimation there are two board counterposing 'language'
explanations offered: Chomsky/ Piaget and Vygotsky/Luria. There could
be more -- but I'm no specialist.

People don't realize that that was in effect a major  theoretical
divide -- Piaget vs Vygotsky  --back in the twenties -- before
Stalinism bore down on psychological research and pitched for a crude
Pavlovism. (Vygotsky was initially taught by Pavlov too). Later
Vygotsky was out of print , unknown and buried until the late sixties.
translations and publication of his works.

While Vygotsky's work on language as mediator (before his early death)
is crucial I think -- the perspective is enriched by Luria later on in
such works as The Working Brain.

The irony is that while Luria and Vygotsky were dediated dialectical
materailist  they have a keen following among educators,
neurobiologists (such as Oliver Sachs -(who explores sign language for
example  in Seeing Voices) and psychologists -- but they aren't a
standard read among registered Marxists.

So I gotta recommend the guys. I think Vygiotsky isn't considerate
enough of the interpay between phsysioloigy and languahe -- soemthing
Luria addressed later -- as they tended to be absolutely social
determinists in a way that later Gould and Leewontin have rectified.

I also think the work on language enriches Lenin's views -- via Stalin
I guess -- on nationalism and national identity. And it is also very
useful in understanding how the material elements i of the world are
harnessed by  our consciousness. Vygotsky and Luria treats the whole
base and superstructure thing with the deference to complexity it
deserves.

Vygotsky on Piaget:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/vygotsky/works/words/ch02.htm


dave riley