Rik Smits (linguist)

Reinier Johannes Charles "Rik" Smits (born 1953 in The Hague) is a Dutch linguist, author, translator and editor with a wide range of interests.[1]

Rik Smits
BornReinier Johannes Charles Smits
(1953-09-30) 30 September 1953
The Hague, Netherlands
OccupationLinguist, author, editor
ResidenceAmsterdam, Netherlands
Website
peptalks.nl

As a linguist he specialized in generative syntax, taking a PhD in General Linguistics in 1989.[2][3] From then on, he mainly pursued a writing career, informing the general public on linguistic matters theoretical and practical. Apart from linguistics, he published hundreds of articles and interviews on subjects like the brain, ICT and its ramifications, modern media, intellectual property, freedom of speech, copyright and other fundamental rights, history, ethics and politics.

Smits published books on subjects ranging from language via handedness and laterality to history and French cuisine, mostly in Dutch.[4][5][6] Books in English comprise The Puzzle of Left-handedness, which deals with the cultural, biological and evolutionary aspects of human handedness and the notions of left, right and symmetry in biology, psychology, art and life in general, and the above-mentioned Dawn, the Origins of Language and the Modern Human Mind, an inquiry into why, how and when the human language faculty - and with it the truly modern mind - developed.[7][8][9][10][11] For the earlier Dutch version of this book he won the LOT-award 2010.[12] Smits shows that human language is not only truly human, representing a clear and fundamental break between "us" and the animal kingdom, and that it could not have arisen for communicative purposes - that came later.

From 2008-2015 he was the editor of De Republikein (The Republican), a quarterly on modern constitutional democracy and citizenship.[13]

Translations include Simon Goldhill's Love, Sex and Tragedy; how the Ancient World Shapes our Lives (Liefde, seks en tragedie; hoe de oudheid ons heeft gevormd, Nieuw Amsterdam, 2012), Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard's Killing Kennedy; the End of Camelot (Killing Kennedy, het einde van een droom, Nieuw Amsterdam, 2012) and Litter; how other People's Rubbish Shapes our Lives (Andermans rotzooi, Nieuw Amsterdam, 2012) by Theodore Dalrymple.

Books
TitlePublisher/yearGenreNotes
The Art of Verbal WelfareReaktion BooksCulture, sociologyIn preparation
Dawn: The Origins of Language and the Modern Human MindTransaction Publishers, 2016 ISBN 978-1-4128-6265-3Science
The Puzzle of Left-HandednessReaktion Books/Chicago University Press, 2011 ISBN 978-1-86189-873-9Science
Eurogrammar 1: The Relative and Cleft Constructions of the Germanic and Romance LanguageForis/Walter de Gruyter, 1989 ISBN 978-90-6765-434-0Doctoral Thesis
In Dutch
Rebellen, Een dwarse geschiedenis van 200 jaar NederlandNieuw Amsterdam, 2013 ISBN 978-90-468-1578-6History
Het raadsel van linkshandigheidNieuw Amsterdam, 2010 ISBN 978-90-468-0744-6Science
Dageraad, Hoe taal de mens maakteNieuw Amsterdam, 2009 SBN 978-90-468-0389-9Science
Handboek NederlandsBijleveld, 2004 ISBN 90-6131-956-0Languagewith Liesbeth Koenen
E-mail etiquettePodium, 2000 ISBN 90-5759-253-3Languagewith Liesbeth Koenen
La Carte, Tafelwoordenboek voor de Franse KeukenAtlas, 1997 / Podium, 2002 ISBN 978-90-5759-191-4Travel, foodApp iOS/Android
De Keuken van ArgusAtlas, 1996 ISBN 90-254-0528-2Journalismwith Liesbeth Koenen and Mans Kuipers
Basishandleiding NederlandsBijleveld, 1995-2004 ISBN 90-6131-955-2Languagewith Liesbeth Koenen
De Linkshandige PicadorNijgh & Van Ditmar, 1993 ISBN 90-388-7045-0Science
Cultureel WoordenboekAnthos, 1992/2003Languagewith Liesbeth Koenen
Peptalk - Engels Woordgebruik in de Nederlandse TaalNijgh & Van Ditmar, 1992 ISBN 90-388-4346-1Languagewith Liesbeth Koenen

References
  1. Transaction Publishers
  2. Smits, R.J.C. Eurogrammar 1: the Relative and Cleft Constructions of the Germanic and Romance Languages. Foris/Walter deGruyter.
  3. Harford, Carolyn. "Eurogrammar: The relative and cleft constructions of the Germanic and Romance languages By R. J. C. Smits (review)". Project Muse. Linguistics Society of America. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  4. Spaans, Nico. "Boekbespreking Dageraad" (PDF). UNIDE. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. Holman, Theodor. "OBA live: Hoofdgast Rik Smits over zijn boek Rebellen". Human television. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  6. Venselaar, Lisette. "Tafelwoordenboek app La Carte". Onze Franse Keuken. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  7. "The Puzzle of Left-handedness". Times Higher Education. 22 September 2011.
  8. Smits, Rik (13 April 2012). "Lefties aren't special after all". New York Times. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  9. "Interview Wim Brands/VPRO television". tvblik.
  10. Willingham, Daniel T. (5 October 2011). "Do Southpaws Rule the World". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  11. Smith, PD (25 September 2012). "The Puzzle of Left-handedness by Rik Smits - Review". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  12. Hulstijn, Jan (February 2011). "De Grote Taaldag" (PDF). KATblad (99): 21.
  13. "De Republikein". De Republikein. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
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