The Origins of Language: An Introduction to Evolutionary Linguistics - Softcover

Dornbierer-Stuart, Joanna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3031549376 ISBN 13: 9783031549373

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2024

Synopsis

This book offers an introduction to the multidisciplinary subject of evolutionary linguistics, which seeks to explain the biological origins of language and its subsequent development in humans. Roughly six million years ago, a branch of hominids from the forests of East Africa started to thrive in the drier environment created by the East African Rift System. A host of physical developments culminated in the brains of early humans increasing dramatically in size and cognitive power. Influenced by a unique and complex social organisation, communication signals became much more diverse and dependent on memory and learning mechanisms. But language is not only used to interact with our fellow beings. It is also closely connected to our thoughts. This makes language a biological, social, cultural and cognitive phenomenon all at once. What precise role did each of these aspects play in the emergence of language and how were they all coordinated to produce the most sophisticated communication system in the animal kingdom? The book aims to answer these questions and open up the fascinating world of evolutionary linguistics. It is not only aimed at scholars of linguistics, but also students from other disciplines (e.g., psychology, anthropology, evolutionary biology and cognitive science) who have an academic interest in language but may be approaching linguistics for the first time. In addition, the book should appeal to anyone with an interest in the workings of language in general, as well as advanced learners of English.

About this title

About the Author

Joanna Dornbierer-Stuart is a language teacher, translator and author based in Switzerland. She is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. Her previous book, Complete Grammar Guide to Swiss German, was published in 2020.

From the Back Cover

This book offers an introduction to the multidisciplinary subject of evolutionary linguistics, which seeks to explain the biological origins of language and its subsequent development in humans. Roughly six million years ago, a branch of hominids from the forests of East Africa started to thrive in the drier environment created by the East African Rift System. A host of physical developments culminated in the brains of early humans increasing dramatically in size and cognitive power. Influenced by a unique and complex social organisation, communication signals became much more diverse and dependent on memory and learning mechanisms. But language is not only used to interact with our fellow beings. It is also closely connected to our thoughts. This makes language a biological, social, cultural and cognitive phenomenon all at once. What precise role did each of these aspects play in the emergence of language and how were they all coordinated to produce the most sophisticated communication system in the animal kingdom? The book aims to answer these questions and open up the fascinating world of evolutionary linguistics. It is not only aimed at scholars of linguistics, but also students from other disciplines (e.g., psychology, anthropology, evolutionary biology and cognitive science) who have an academic interest in language but may be approaching linguistics for the first time. In addition, the book should appeal to anyone with an interest in the workings of language in general, as well as advanced learners of English.

Joanna Dornbierer-Stuart is a language teacher, translator and author based in Switzerland. She is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists. Her previous book, Complete Grammar Guide to Swiss German, was published in 2020.

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3031549376
• ISBN 13: 9783031549373
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 207