Human Evolution, Language and Mind: A Psychological and Archaeological Inquiry

Noble, William; Davidson, Iain (illust. by D. Hobbs)

ISBN 10: 0521576350 / ISBN 13: 9780521576352

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996

About this Item

272pp., Pictorial colour illustrated covers with hint of corner-wear, preface, b/w plts. & illust. & text, maps, diags, tables, ref., index. This important book argues that the capacity to use signs in a symbolic way, identified by the authors as language, is the basis for the behaviour that can be described as human. Size: Large Octavo.

Seller Inventory # 003588

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Human Evolution, Language and Mind: A Psychological and Archaeological Inquiry
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521576350
• ISBN 13: 9780521576352
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Book Type: Book

About this title

Synopsis

The question of how modern human behaviour emerged from pre-human hominid behaviour is central to discussions of human evolution. This important book argues that the capacity to use signs in a symbolic way, identified by the authors as language, is the basis for behaviour that can be described as human. The book is the product of a unique collaboration between the key disciplines in the debate about human evolution and mentality - psychology and archaeology. It investigates the significance and nature of the emergence of linguistic behaviour. The text critically examines the archaeological record of hominid evolution and argues that linguistic behaviour emerged no earlier than 100,000 years ago. The book's interdisciplinary approach allows critical attention to be given to an impressively broad range of relevant literature. For the first time, all the known pieces of this evolutionary puzzle are examined in detail.

Book Description

This interdisciplinary text explores the significance, nature and timing of the evolutionary emergence of human behaviour, which the authors argue is based in linguistic behaviour. The book includes surveys of the archaeological evidence and an impressively broad range of relevant literature.