| Description |
1 online resource. |
| Physical Medium |
polychrome |
| Description |
text file |
| Series |
Cambridge textbooks in linguistics
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Cambridge textbooks in linguistics.
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| Summary |
"How did the biological, brain and behavioural structures underlying human language evolve? When, why and where did our ancestors become linguistic animals, and what has happened since? This book provides a clear, comprehensive but lively introduction to these interdisciplinary debates. Written in an approachable style, it cuts through the complex, sometimes contradictory and often obscure technical languages used in the different scientific disciplines involved in the study of linguistic evolution. Assuming no background knowledge in these disciplines, the book outlines the physical and neurological structures underlying language systems, and the limits of our knowledge concerning their evolution. Discussion questions and further reading lists encourage students to explore the primary literature further, and the final chapter demonstrates that while many questions still remain unanswered, there is a growing consensus as to how modern human languages have arisen as systems by the interplay of evolved structures and cultural transmission"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Contents |
Cover ; Evolutionary Linguistics; Series Page; Title; Copyright; Contents; Figures; Preface; Some necessary background: language and evolution; Aims; Organisation, and how to use this book; Acknowledgements; 1 Evolution and history; 1.1 Overview; 1.2 Evolutionary linguistics; 1.3 Early ideas about the origin of language; 1.3.1 The first language; 1.3.2 Early theories of origin; 1.4 Evolution and history; 1.4.1 Schleicher's distinction; 1.4.2 Evolution by natural selection; 1.4.3 Genes, structures and behaviour; 1.5 Saying 'evolution' without meaning it; 1.6 Beyond evolution?; 1.7 Summary. |
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Further readingPoints for discussion; 2 Evidence for evolution; 2.1 Overview; 2.2 The argument from design; 2.3 The critical period hypothesis; 2.4 The argument from poverty of the stimulus; 2.5 Creativity and creolisation; 2.6 Language and the brain; 2.7 'Language genes'; 2.8 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 3 The comparative methods; 3.1 Overview; 3.2 Going backwards to move forwards; 3.3 An outline of the comparative method in linguistics; 3.4 Reconstruction and comparison are time-limited; 3.5 Reconstruction and comparison of morphosyntax; 3.6 Global etymologies. |
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3.7 Limitations on reconstruction3.8 The comparative method in biology; 3.9 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 4 Who, where and when?; 4.1 Overview; 4.2 Biological family trees; 4.2.1 The big picture; 4.2.2 The Animal family tree; 4.3 Beware: falling trees!; 4.4 Hominid histories; 4.4.1 Proto-apes to humans: one simple story; 4.4.2 Introducing complexities; 4.5 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 5 The vocal tract; 5.1 Overview; 5.2 Producing speech sounds; 5.3 Uniquely human?; 5.3.1 Present-day comparisons; 5.3.2 Reconstruction and the fossil record. |
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5.4 Complexities and critiques5.5 Adaptations and complications; 5.6 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 6 Language and the brain; 6.1 Overview; 6.2 Brains and genes: one topic, not two; 6.3 Elementary brain geography; 6.4 Specialisation of the brain for language; 6.4.1 Brain asymmetry and analysis of naturally occurring lesions; 6.4.2 Electrocortical mapping and newer methods; 6.5 Evolution and the human brain; 6.5.1 Stressing similarities; 6.5.2 Size matters?; 6.5.3 Asymmetry and development of specialised structures; 6.6 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion. |
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7 Language and genes7.1 Overview; 7.2 What is a gene, and how does it work?; 7.3 Genes in populations; 7.3.1 Mutation; 7.3.2 Selection; 7.3.3 Drift; 7.3.4 Genes and population histories; 7.3.4.1 Distant histories; 7.3.4.2 More recent population histories; 7.4 Genes in individuals; 7.4.1 Genes and embryogenesis; 7.4.2 Learning and post-natal development; 7.4.3 'Language genes'; 7.4.3.1 Genetic conditions affecting language and the brain; 7.4.3.2 The FOXP2 gene; 7.5 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 8 Big bang or cumulative creep? Saltation versus gradual, adaptive evolution. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Language and languages -- Origin.
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Language and languages -- Origin. |
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Anthropological linguistics.
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Anthropological linguistics. |
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Human evolution.
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Human evolution. |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
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| Added Author |
McMahon, Robert, 1964-
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| Other Form: |
Print version: McMahon, April M.S. Evolutionary linguistics. Cambridge [England] : Cambridge University Press, 2012 9780521814508 (DLC) 2012014211 (OCoLC)785558879 |
| ISBN |
9781139775977 (electronic book) |
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1139775979 (electronic book) |
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9780511989391 (electronic book) |
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0511989393 (electronic book) |
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1139782002 |
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9781139782005 |
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9780521814508 |
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0521814502 |
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9780521891394 |
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0521891396 |
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9781283741385 |
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1283741385 |
|
