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 cliché "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