Inquiries Concerning the Structure of the Semitic Languages (Volume 1) Book

At the time this scholarly work was published, it provided persuasive proof that Asian students were often overlooked when their vocabulary and other verbal skills were not up to par, because they tended to cooperate with teachers. If the squeaky wheel gets the grease, then Asian students were seldom going to get their needs met.

Not intended for popular reading purposes, this book is carefully constructed and documented, not a single leak in the boat. And today, it lacks only one thing that is badly needed: updating.

One passage that I highlighted back when I was working on my thesis states that Asians are most likely the demographic that is increasing at the highest rate. When this was published in the 1990's, I think that statement was true. It isn't now, though. Things change, and they change fast. Almost twenty years have passed since it hit the shelves, and it is no longer a reliable source of contemporary information.

Chen's scholarship is unquestionably strong, and information gleaned that it specific to a particular point in history will still be worthwhile to the researcher. Nicely done.