Hypocritical??

Rebekah Medford
Ms.Hughs
Language Controversies

“Hypocrite: 1.a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.” In every class, type, occupation, or sex, a person of the definition above is present. Hypocrites are among even the “best” of us: teachers, police men, politicians, religious figures and …linguist? Can this be true? Theodore Dalrymple seems to think so. In his article “The Gift of Language: No, Dr.Pinker, It’s Not Just From Nature,” Dalrymple accuses Pinker of being a hypocrite with his writings on language deriving from instinct and biology. He states “Pinker doesn’t really believe anything of what he writes, at least if example is stronger evidence of belief than precept.” Dalrymple makes several good, clear points against Pinker’s writing but are they enough to classify Pinker as a true hypocrite?
Towards the middle of his article Dalrymple points out a very interesting example on why he thinks Pinker is a hypocrite. Dalrymple and Pinker’s ideas on how a person develops language contrast greatly. In this particular case Dalrymple tries to catch Pinker contradicting his own belief that children do not learn language from imitation and parents. Trying to prove this, Dalrymple examines Pinker’s book dedication which reads “For Harry and Roslyn Parker, who gave me language.” Dalrymple tries to use this against Pinker. The dedication does not mean the Pinker is a hypocrite, it does not mean he is contradicting himself. Pinker’s words could easily be a thank you to his parents for giving him birth and the chance to live life and speak. By giving him life Pinker’s parents gave him language.
Dalrymple continues to try and prove Pinker as a hypocrite, presenting the idea that Pinker clearly values Standard English as higher language because he writes in it. Dalrymple says Pinker wrote to “please schoolmarms.” Pinker wrote in Standard English because it was what he was use to writing. He wanted to make sure what he was writing was clear to the reader. Though Dalrymple does find interesting points to use against Pinker none of them can truly be used or correct in categorizing Pinker as a hypocrite.