LINGUIST List 17.1361
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Wed May 03 2006
Books: Cognitive Science/ Historical Ling: Johansson
Editor for this issue: Maria Moreno-Rollins
<maria linguistlist.org>
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Directory
1. Paul
Peranteau,
Origins of Language: Johansson
Message 1: Origins of Language: Johansson
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Date: 18-Apr-2006
From: Paul Peranteau <paulbenjamins.com>
Subject: Origins of Language: Johansson
Title: Origins of Language
Subtitle: Constraints on hypotheses
Series Title: Converging Evidence in Language and Communication Research 5
Published: 2006
Publisher: John Benjamins
http://www.benjamins.com/
Book URL: http://www.benjamins.com/cgi-bin/t_bookview.cgi?bookid=CELCR%205
Author: Sverker Johansson, University of Jönköping
Hardback: ISBN: 1588116298 Pages: 346 Price: U.S. $ 114.00
Hardback: ISBN: 902723891X Pages: 346 Price: Europe EURO 95.00
Paperback: ISBN: 9027238936 Pages: 346 Price: Europe EURO 38.00
Paperback: ISBN: 9027238936 Pages: 346 Price: U.S. $ 45.95
Abstract:
Sverker Johansson has written an unusual book on language origins, with its
emphasis on empirical evidence rather than theory-building. This is a book
for the student or researcher who prefers solid data and well-supported
conclusions, over speculative scenarios. Much that has been written on the
origins of language is characterized by hypothesizing largely unconstrained
by evidence. But empirical data do exist, and the purpose of this book is
to integrate and review the available evidence from all relevant
disciplines, not only linguistics but also, e.g., neurology, primatology,
paleoanthropology, and evolutionary biology. The evidence is then used to
constrain the multitude of scenarios for language origins, demonstrating
that many popular hypotheses are untenable. Among the issues covered: (1)
Human evolutionary history, (2) Anatomical prerequisites for language, (3)
Animal communication and ape "language", (4) Mind and language, (5) The
role of gesture, (6) Innateness, (7) Selective advantage of language, (8)
Proto-language.
Table of contents
Preface x
1. Introduction 1
2. What is language? 5
3. The theory of evolution 13
4. Human origins and evolution 41
5. Anatomical and neurological prerequisites 77
6. Animal communication in the wild 119
7. Can nonhumans be taught language? 129
8. Language, mind, and self 143
9. Hypotheses of language origins 157
10. Why did language evolve? 193
11. Protolanguage
12. Conclusions 243
References 248
Index 331
"Sverker Johansson offers us an impressive review of current theories on
the origins of language, one of the most stimulating scientific debates of
the nascent century. The book is clear, clever, exhaustive, and has the
rare quality of being faithful to all the theories it describes. It is
essential readings for all those who want to be part of the fascinating
adventure of understanding the origins of humanity. This is a reference
book, not only for students, but also for researchers in the field, and I
will be digging frequently into this mine of knowledge."
Jean-Louis Dessalles, ParisTech ENST
"Johansson's review of the existing theories of language evolution is
excellent and provides a good introduction to the field. Even though he
does not formulate a theory of his own, I find the constraints on theories
of language evolution that he formulates very clear-headed and they should
certainly serve as benchmarks for any researcher in the area."
Peter Gärdenfors, Professor of Cognitive Science, Lund University, Sweden
"In total it is a valuable review - currently the most complete in its
breadth and balance of any yet published - and I would consider using it in
an upperdivision course."
Terence Deacon
Linguistic Field(s):
Cognitive Science
Historical Linguistics
Philosophy of Language
Written In: English (eng )
See this book announcement on our website:
http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=19162
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