# The brain is a bad metaphor for language

Canonical page: https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2011-03-11-the-brain-is-a-bad-metaphor-for-language

The piece argues that neuroscience cannot explain language by assuming direct structural correspondences between brain activity and linguistic phenomena.

Blog post · Metaphor Hacker · 11 March 2011

## Where it lives

- [Read it on Metaphor Hacker (metaphorhacker.net)](https://metaphorhacker.net/2011/03/the-brain-is-a-bad-metaphor-for-language/)

## About this item

- Type: Blog post
- Published: 11 March 2011
- Published in: Metaphor Hacker
- Language: English

Topics: neuroscience, linguistics, language-learning, science.

## Related

- [The most ridiculous metaphor of education courtesy of an economics professor](https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2011-02-20-the-most-ridiculous-metaphor-of-education) (Blog post · 20 February 2011)
- [Literally: Triumph of pet peeve over matter](https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2011-02-23-literally-triumph-of-pet-peeve-over-matter) (Blog post · 23 February 2011)
- [Do science fiction writers dream of fascist dictatorships?](https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2011-03-13-do-science-fiction-writers-dream-of-fascist-dictatorships) (Blog post · 13 March 2011)
- [What would make linguistics a better science? Science as a metaphor](https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2019-04-28-what-would-make-linguistics-a-better-science-science-as-a-metaphor) (Blog post · 28 April 2019)
- [Community research and "knowledge exchange network" for neuroscience](https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2011-03-02-community-research-and-knowledge-exchange-network-for-neuroscience) (Blog post · 2 March 2011)
- [Comedian identifies a critical flaw in structuralism: Are distinctive features like leather sleeves](https://dominiklukes.net/writing/2011-03-24-comedian-identifies-a-critical-flaw-in-structuralism-are-distinctive-) (Blog post · 24 March 2011)

Section: [Writing](https://dominiklukes.net/writing)