The Science Times Book of Language and Linguistics - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 155821934X ISBN 13: 9781558219342

Publisher: Lyons Pr, 2000

Synopsis

Examines the evolution of human and animal language within various cultures and species and how it is acquired and processed

About this title

About the Author

Nicholas Wade, a science reporter for The New York Times, was the editor of the Science Times from 1990 through 1996. He is also the author of The Ultimate Experiment, The Nobel Duel, Betrayers of the Truth (with William J. Broad), and A World Beyond Healing, and editor of the Science Times books published by the Lyons Press.

From the Back Cover

In the latest book in the series, editor Nichols Wade and the award-winning New York Times journalists explore the mysterious roots of language.Every culture has language, and we have long considered our ability to articulate to be what makes human beings unique in the animal world. It now appears certain that animals have fairly complex ways of communicating as well. Times reporters examine findings that shed light on animal "language," from the subsonic songs of the African elephants that can travel up to two miles through the ground to the rich rhyming schemes of the humpback whales.Our own species' development of language capacity remains a fascinating study. Did Neanderthals have spoken language? Which of the earliest cultures had written language? Among the tales herein are the search for the hypothetical mother tongue from which all languages are descended; linguists' reconstruction of lost languages; and archaeologists' discovery of 4,000-year-old Caucasian mummy remains in China that suggest astonishing possibilities.The human brain and how it acquires language is a constant source of scientific interest. Articles on the ways in which babies learn language, laughter's role in communication, how music works in the brain, how brain disorders affect language development, and how men and women use language differently are just some of the tantalizing research covered. The Science Times Book of Language and Linguistics is sure to captivate history buffs, animal lovers, students, and anyone who has an interest in language and culture. (71/4 X 91/2, 212 pages, illustrations)

Reviews

Most humans intuit that it is language that distinguishes them from all other creatures. Unanimity dissolves, however, on trying to define language, whether the subtopic is language's origins, acquisition, neurology, or possession by other animals. The vibrant cacophony of opinions about language echoes through these recently published New York Times articles. Disagreements in language research can be intense, especially over such questions as, What root language preceded Indo-European? "Nostratic," according to some linguists; unknowable nonsense, retort the skeptics. Can chimpanzees be coaxed to communicate, as Emily Savage-Rumbaugh pursues at her Georgia compound? Reporters can always get a quotable "no" from linguists Noam Chomsky or Stephen Pinker. Do men's and women's brains process language differently? The very question irks the equality minded, but studies pour out on the matter nonetheless. The Times reporters perform admirably in framing controversies and condensing jargon for readers embarking on an exploration of the current state of language research. Gilbert Taylor

Edition details

• Publisher: Lyons Pr
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 155821934X
• ISBN 13: 9781558219342
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 193
• Editor: Wade Nicholas