New Academic Books Explore Language, Autobiography, Clouds, and AI's Impact

Noma Hideki, a linguist and artist, presents a comprehensive exploration of language's existence in his 640-page work, "Linguistic Ontology." The book posits that language resides within a 'linguistic field' where speech is enacted. It distinguishes this from artificial intelligence, which, within this framework, merely outputs forms of speech without grasping 'meaning,' regardless of human reaction. This 2018 work, translated by Kim Kyung-won, offers a deep dive into the philosophical underpinnings of language.

"The Conventions of Autobiography" has been released in a revised, complete edition after 30 years. Authored by Philippe Lejeune, the book scrutinizes the essence of autobiography, tracing its development from Rousseau's "Confessions," considered the first modern autobiography, to Lheres's "The Years." It combines theoretical exploration with close readings of individual works. This new edition includes previously omitted sections from the 1998 Korean version and the revised preface.

"Clouds," by atmospheric scientist Edward Graham, formerly the editor of the Royal Meteorological Society's journal "Weather," scientifically explains the forms and phenomena of clouds. The book covers their formation, dissipation, the water cycle, and the history of cloud nomenclature. It is richly illustrated with over 140 paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries, alongside a classification of various cloud types.

"A History of Maternal and Child Health in Korea" by Choi Seung-ah, a professor at Korea University specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, and preventive medicine, chronicles 100 years of maternal and child health policy in Korea. The book examines 56 key moments in pregnancy and childbirth from the Japanese colonial era to the constitutional court's decision on abortion laws. It also addresses the healthcare gaps resulting from government-led family planning programs in the 1970s and 1980s.

Finally, "Endangered Thinking" by French philosopher Eric Sadin critiques the technological structure of AI, which he argues discourages contemplation and creativity. The book, which emerged from an "Anti-AI Summit" held in Paris in 2025 during a fictional global AI leaders' conference, identifies industry professionals and politicians as key drivers of this trend. Translated by Lee Sun-joo, the book warns against AI's potential to diminish human intellectual engagement.