The Origins of Complex Language: An Inquiry into the Evolutionary Beginnings of Sentences, Syllables, and Truth (Oxford Linguistics) - Brossura

Carstairs-McCarthy, Andrew

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0198238215 ISBN 13: 9780198238218

Casa editrice: Oxford University Press, 1999

Riassunto

This book proposes a new theory of the origins of human language ability and presents an original account of the early evolution of language. It explains why humans are the only language-using animals, challenges the assumption that language is a consequence of intelligence, and offers a new perspective on human uniqueness.

The author draws on evidence from archaeology, linguistics, cognitive science, and evolutionary biology. Making no assumptions about the reader's prior knowledge he first provides an introductory but critical survey of all sources of evidence for language evolution. He then considers what language itself reveals about its own and human origins and evolution. He shows that certain central aspects of language do not, unexpectedly, reflect what they are used for, are maladapted for their function. He considers why this should be, and argues that these odd aspects of language reveal important clues about its evolutionary origin.

The Origins of Complex Language fulfils the promise of its title. In doing so it turns upside down conventional theories about the relation between cognition and expression, truth and reference, and the co-evolution of mind and body. Original in conception, brilliantly executed, stylishly written, this book will attract a wide range of readers interested in the evolution and origins of language.

Su questo libro

Recensione

This book offers a superb review of recent debates on the origins of language, supported by an exhaustive and up-to-date bibliography. This in itself makes it a worthwhile buy. The scholarship is meticulous, displaying close familiarity with most central controversies in the field (Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland)

Contenuti

• 1: Introduction
• 2: The peculiarities of language
• 3: Truth and reference
• 4: Attempts to solve the problems
• 5: A different solution
• 6: Apes, anthropology, and the brain
• 7: Just how unique are we?
• Appendix
• Further reading
• References
• Index

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Oxford University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 1999
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0198238215
• ISBN 13: 9780198238218
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 272
• Contatto del produttore: Messaggerie Libri; ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it; ; Via Verdi, 8.; Assago Milano; 20090; Italia