LINGUIST List 14.2807

Fri Oct 17 2003

Books: Cognitive Science/Ling Theories: Jackendoff

Editor for this issue: Marisa Ferrara <marisalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. tom.perridge, Foundations of Language: Jackendoff

Title: Foundations of Language
Subtitle: Brain, Meaning, Grammar, Evolution
			
Publication Year: 2003
Publisher: Oxford University Press
 http://www.oup-usa.org/, http://www.oup.co.uk	
			
Book URL: http://www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-926437-6
 
Author: Ray Jackendoff, Brandeis University 

Hardback: ISBN: 0198270127, Pages: 498, Price: �29.99
Paperback: ISBN: 0199264376, Pages: 498, Price: �17.50
Comment: NEW IN PAPERBACK
			
Abstract:

How does human language work? How do we put ideas into words that
others can understand? Can linguistics shed light on the way the brain
operates?

'Foundations of Language' puts linguistics back at the centre of the
search to understand human consciousness. Ray Jackendoff begins by
surveying the developments in linguistics over the years since
Chomsky's 'Aspects of the Theory of Syntax'. He goes on to propose a
radical re-conception of how the brain processes language. This opens
up vivid new perspectives on every major aspect of language and
communication, including grammar, vocabulary, learning, the origins of
human language, and how language relates to the real
world. 'Foundations of Language' makes important connections with
other disciplines which have been isolated from linguistics for many
years. It sets a new agenda for close cooperation between the study of
language, mind, the brain, behaviour, and evolution.

'A masterpiece. The book deserves a wide readership' John C. Marshall,
Nature
 
'An excellent overview of the complexities of language' New Scientist
 
'His breadth of knowlede and soundness of judgment, along with just
the right amount of adventurousness, make for a book that deserves to
be read and reread by anyone seriously interested in the state of the
art of research on language.' Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy, American
Scientist
 
'Few books really deserve the clich� "this should be read by every
researcher in the field," but Ray Jackendoff's "Foundations of
Language" does. I think it is the most important book in the sciences
of language to have appeared in many years. Jackendoff has long had a
genius for seeing both the forest and the trees, and he puts his gift
to good use here in a dazzling combination of theory-building and
factual integration. The result is a compelling new view of language
and its place in the natural world.' Steven Pinker
			
Lingfield(s): Cognitive Science
		Computational Linguistics
		Historical Linguistics
		Language Acquisition
		Philosophy of Language
		Psycholinguistics
		Syntax
			 
Written In: English (Language Code: English)

 See this book announcement on our website: 
 http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=7650.