The origins of meaning / James R. Hurford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hurford, James R.

Series:

Hurford, James R. Language in the light of evolution ; 1.

Language in the light of evolution ; 1

Studies in the Evolution of Language

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Semantics--History.

Semantics.

Communication.

Evolution.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (404 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In this, the first of two ground-breaking volumes on the nature of language in the light of the way it evolved, James Hurford looks at the origins of meaning and of its expression in language and reviews a mass of evidence to uncover the evolutionary path between the non-speaking minds of apes and our own speaking minds. This is a landmark contribution to the understanding of linguistic and thinking processes, and the fullest account yet published of the evolution of language and. communication. - ;In this, the first of two ground-breaking volumes on the nature of language in the light of the

Contents:

Contents; Acknowledgements; Preface; PART I: MEANING BEFORE COMMUNICATION; 1. Let's Agree on Terms; 2. Animals Approach Human Cognition; 3. A New Kind of Memory Evolves; 4. Animals Form Proto-propositions; 5. Towards Human Semantics; PART II: COMMUNICATION: WHAT AND WHY?; 6. Communication by Dyadic Acts; 7. Going Triadic: Precursors of Reference; 8. Why Communicate? Squaring with Evolutionary Theory; 9. Cooperation, Fair Play, and Trust in Primates; 10. Epilogue and Prologue; Bibliography; Index; A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; Y; Z

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

0-19-160723-1

1-281-14907-1

9786611149079

0-19-152592-8

1-4356-0979-4

OCLC:

476245842