Customer Reviews

The Seeds of Speech: Language Origin and Evolution (Cambridge Approaches to Linguistics)

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Aitchison has written another page turner. If this book doesn't keep you up until 3am desperate to finish, nothing will. It is divided into four sections: puzzles, origin, evolution, and diffusion. Puzzles deals with the theories as to how language began and developed. What was it originally for? and touches a little on the area of psycholinguistics. The second section deals with the issue of where it began on earth and how it spread out. The issues of the first chapter are expanded on and answers provided. The third section details the evolution of language based on what we currently know about language creation among the higher apes and among indigenous peoples who are exposed to foreign languages (pidgins, creoles). The last section deals with the diffusion we know today and with the idea of a universal grammar that would unite all human language under certain principles.

As always Aitchison has managed to present a lot of information succinctly and without clouding the issues. A good introduction to the subject.

I like this book a lot. It starts with a statement/question on the first page

A natural curiosity: How did language begin? It is an amazing thought and question and admittedly if you are reading this review you have an interest in language/linguistics and have probably thought of this before, but many people have not. Just ask a few. The conversations that follow will be intriguing.

Other chapters in the first part of the book ask: What is language for? Why do languages differ? And Is Language and Independent Skill? It looks at the cerebellum, chimpanzees, and Chomsky - so a well rounded book considering the neurology and cultural underpinnings of how language may have evolved and why.

For the MA student in linguistics or TESOL this is a very useful reference/read - don't hesitate. For average civilian you may need a peculiar interest in linguistics to find this riveting - or an interest in a range of topics offered here during life. It is a great book.