1 option
Language evolution : the Windows Approach / Rudolf Botha.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Botha, Rudolf P., author.
- Series:
- Approaches to the evolution of language
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Language and languages--Origin.
- Language and languages.
- Human evolution--Social life and customs.
- Human evolution.
- Linguistic paleontology--Social life and customs.
- Linguistic paleontology.
- Anthropological linguistics.
- Historical linguistics.
- Manners and customs.
- Physical Description:
- x, 318 pages ; 24 cm.
- Place of Publication:
- Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2016.
- Summary:
- "How can we unravel the evolution of language, given that there is no direct evidence about it? Rudolf Botha addresses this intriguing question in his fascinating new book. Inferences can be drawn about language evolution from a range of other phenomena, serving as windows into this prehistoric process. These include shell-beads, fossil skulls and ancestral brains, modern pidgin and creole languages, homesign systems and emergent sign languages, modern motherese, language use of modern hunter-gatherers, first language acquisition, similarities between language and music, and comparative animal behaviour. The first systematic analysis of the Windows Approach, it will be of interest to students and researchers in many disciplines, including anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, palaeontology and primatology, as well as anyone interested in how language evolved"-- Provided by publisher.
- Contents:
- Part I. Preliminaries
- The Windows Approach
- Conceptual foundations of the approach
- Part II. Correlate Windows
- Sea shells, ancient beads and Middle Stone Age symbols
- Fossil skulls and ancestral brains
- Part III. Analogue Windows
- Incipient pidgins and creoles
- Homesign systems and emergent sign languages
- Modern motherese
- Hunter-gatherers' use of language
- Language acquisition
- Part IV. Abduction Windows
- Modern music and language
- Comparative animal behaviour
- Part V. Epilogue
- A tool fit for demystifying language evolution?
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 9781107135130
- 1107135133
- 9781316501078
- 1316501078
- OCLC:
- 922694613
- Online:
- Cover image
The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.