Customer Reviews

The Development of Language: Acquisition, Change, and Evolution (Blackwell/Maryland Lectures in Language and Cognition)

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At the outset Lightfoot states that this book is intended for the "interested layman." As such it is a decent book with some theory, some data and a good deal of scientific philosophy, or maybe the history of science. However to any reader who may have a backround in such subjects the book seems to be a dangerous gloss of important points. It should also be stated at the outset that Lightfoot is not ashamed to put forth his own ideas on these subjects in which he may, or may not be an expert. At times this tendency is obnoxious, and occasionaly, most often in his chapter conclusions, he states his case honestly and makes it clear that there are some things which he may be mistaken in. As for his final conclusions(the last three chapters) there are a few good points, a paragraph here and there which deomonstrate either Lightfoot's knowledge of his own limitations or at least intelectual honesty. Unfortunately, for the most part these chapters are misleading, rehtorical and uninformed.