The Unfolding of Language (Paperback)

by Guy Deutscher (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"* "A highly original study of the evolution of language... A brilliant solution to a quandary that has puzzled people for many centuries... If [the] decay and simplification [of language] are constant and universal...how did...regular and complex languages come to exist in the first place? Deutscher's chosen task is to unravel that paradox, and he does so brilliantly, withholding the secret with great skill. If I told you how it works, you wouldn't buy the book. Suffice to say his explanation is both clever and convincing... this book will stretch your mind' Independent on Sunday * "He really ought to be read...by anyone who persists in complaining that the English language is going to the dogs...interesting and substantial" - Nicholas Bagnal, Sunday Telegraph * 'Powerful and thrilling.' Spectator"

Product Description
Blending the spirit of Bill Bryson’s Mother Tongue with the science of Steven Pinker’s The Language Instinct, The Unfolding of Language is a remarkably original inquiry into the development of that most essential — and mysterious — of human creations: language.

‘Language is mankind’s greatest invention — except of course, that it was never invented.’ So begins this enthralling investigation into the evolution of language. Given that no-one sits down to design languages, how did there come to be so many, and of such elaborate design? If we started off with rudimentary utterances on the level of ‘man throw spear’, how did we end up with sophisticated grammars, enormous vocabularies, and intricately nuanced shades of meaning?

Drawing on recent, groundbreaking discoveries in modern linguistics, Deutscher exposes the elusive forces of creation at work in human communication, giving us fresh insight into how language is formed, evolves, and decays. He traces the emergence of linguistic complexity from an early evolutionary ‘Me Tarzan’ stage to the astonishing power of languages today, with their capacity to express even the subtlest thoughts and ideas. From the written records of lost civilizations to the spoken idiom of today’s streets, we move from ancient Babylonian through medieval French to the English of the present. We marvel at the staggering triumph of design that is the Semitic verb, puzzle over single words that can express highly elaborate sentiments, and learn how great changes of pronunciation may result from simple laziness. Through the dramatic story of The Unfolding of Language, we discover the genius behind a uniquely human faculty.


From the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Arrow (July 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099460254
• ISBN-13: 978-0099460251
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,420,247 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Analysing the uninvented invention, July 18, 2005

By	Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Unfolding of Language (Hardcover)

The author calls language an "uninvented invention". This very engaging book is an attempt to uncover at least some of the secrets of language and to dismantle the stated paradox. By drawing on recent discoveries in linguistics, Deutscher explores the elusive forces of creation, change and the innate structure of language. In addition, he investigates the way that the elaborate conventions of communication develop in human society. This cultural evolution means the emergence of behavioural codes that are passed on from generation to generation.

Chapter One: Castles In The Air, takes a close look at the structure of language, whilst the following chapter: Perpetual Motion, demonstrates linguistic development and change with particular reference to English, German, French and the Indo-European language family as a whole. Chapter Three: Forces Of Destruction, is a further investigation of how and why changes in sound and meaning take place, with many examples from Indo-European. Chapter Four examines interesting verbs like "To have/to hold" and the concepts of space and time in linguistic expression.

Chapter Five: Forces Of Creation, is a discussion of how new words and structures arise, how meanings change and how languages are enriched by these developments. Chapter Six looks at the need for order in languages and contains lots of interesting information on the Semitic family and its intricate verbal system. In essence, the effects of erosion interact with the mind's craving for order. There is thus a constant search for regular patterns and spontaneous analogical innovations arise. This is based on erosion + expressiveness and erosion + analogy.

The final chapter brings it all together and includes detailed discussions of possessives, quantifiers, plural markers, articles and the various interactions of verbs and nouns. This highly entertaining read is accessible to the non-linguist and explains many fascinating features of language and its structure. There are five appendices, copious notes, a bibliography and glossary of terms. The book concludes with an index.

I also recommend On The Origin Of Languages by Merritt Ruhlen, How To Kill A Dragon by Calvert Watkins, and the work of that great pioneer of language classification, Professor Joseph Greenberg.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Language and how we made it, November 9, 2006

By	Sutton (London, England) - See all my reviews

Why has this book received so few reviews from US readers? Presumably, it is not being well promoted. That's a shame because this is the best popular science book for years. The author entertainingly explains the latest theories about the creation and development of language.
After reading this book, the next time someone tells you that the English language is falling apart you will be able to explain how this is indeed true, but how other forces are inevitably changing it into a new language - which will also be falling apart! There is something inevitable and magnificent about the theories explained in this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on Evolution of Language, January 2, 2007

By	P. Sices (South Bend, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I picked up this book at the library--by accident--and glad that I did. Briefly, this is an excellent and informative read. If you've enjoyed reading Bill Bryson and Steven Pinker, as another reviewer suggested, you'll love this.
The Great Vowel Shift and other sweeping changes are examples often used to illustrate the evolution of the English language. One of the many very interesting points the author makes, is that these changes seem to be universal to all languages, and he gives good examples of this.
The book is wonderfully cohesive, without the trivial "zingers"--such as the rumored "eskimos have umpteen words for snow"--that many popular books on language are fluffed with. It is sober, yet enjoyable and well written such that you will not want to put it down.