The Seeds of Speech: Language Origin and Evolution

by Jean Aitchison

Book Overview

Human language is a weird communication system: it has more in common with birdsong than the calls of other primates. In this clear and non-technical overview, Jean Aitchison explores why it evolved... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521467934
• ISBN13: 9780521467933
• Release Date: May 1996
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

these seeds bore fruit

Aitchison has written another page turner. If this book doesn't keep you up until 3am desperate to finish, nothing will. It is divided into four sections: puzzles, origin, evolution, and diffusion. Puzzles deals with the theories as to how language began and developed. What was it originally for? and touches a little on the area of psycholinguistics. The second section deals with the issue of where it began on earth and how it spread out. The issues of the first chapter are expanded on and answers provided. The third section details the evolution of language based on what we currently know about language creation among the higher apes and among indigenous peoples who are exposed to foreign languages (pidgins, creoles). The last section deals with the diffusion we know today and with the idea of a universal grammar that would unite all human language under certain principles. As always Aitchison has managed to present a lot of information succinctly and without clouding the issues. A good introduction to the subject.