How Language Began: The Story of Humanity's Greatest Invention by Daniel Everett

Description: How Language Began by Daniel Everett A revolutionary account of the origins of language from one of the worlds best known and most influential linguists. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description In his groundbreaking new book Daniel Everett seeks answers to questions that have perplexed thinkers from Plato to Chomsky: when and how did language begin? What is it? And what is it for?Daniel Everett confounds the conventional wisdom that language originated with Homo sapiens 150,000 years ago and that we have a language instinct. Drawing on evidence from a wide range of fields, including linguistics, archaeology, biology, anthropology and neuroscience, he shows that our ancient ancestors, Homo erectus, had the biological and mental equipment for speech one and half million years ago, and that their cultural and technological achievements (including building ocean-going boats) make it overwhelmingly likely they spoke some kind of language.How Language Began sheds new light on language and culture and what it means to be human and, as always, Daniel Everett spices his account with incident and anecdote. His book is convincing, arresting and entertaining. Notes The origins of language are explored by controversial Chomsky-sceptic Daniel Everett, drawing on ideas from linguistics, archaeology, biology, anthropology and neuroscience. Spiced with incident and anecdote to convincing and entertaining effect. Author Biography Daniel Everett worked in the Amazon jungles of Brazil for over 30 years, among more than a dozen different tribal groups. He has published extensively on language and culture and is one of the worlds most influential thinkers in both fields. His Dont Sleep, There Are Snakes was selected by Blackwells bookstores as one of the best of 2009, was an editors choice of the Sunday Times and has been the subject of a film and a play. He is currently Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Review Very few books on the biological and cultural origin of humanity can be ranked as classics. I believe that Daniel Everetts How Language Began will be one of them. -- Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard UniversityHow Language Began occupies a rare literary space that explains complex issues clearly to general readers while being an original contribution to scholarship...the arguments he marshals and insights he provides are impressive...anyone interested in language would gain from reading this book. -- Oliver Kamm * Times *Ambitious...the subject-matter is completely enthralling...Everett is at the very top of his intellectual game. -- Harry Ritchie * Spectator *Important and fascinating -- Adrian Woolfson * Prospect *Everett is skilled at leavening an intellectually challenging treatise with humor ... A worthy book for general readers * Kirkus Reviews *When I first became interested in cultural evolution, cognitive revolutionaries would say that Noam Chomsky had proved that an innate language acquisition device was the key to linguistics. Daniel Everett is a leader of the counterrevolution that is putting culture and cultural evolution back at the center of linguistics, and cognition more generally, where I think it belongs. How Language Began is an accessible account of the case for a culture-centered theory of language. -- Peter Richerson, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California DavisPraise for Language: The Cultural Tool:A book whose importance is almost impossible to overstate. * Sunday Times *Revelatory. There is nothing about humans that is quite as astonishing as language. * Guardian *Impressively modest and reasoned. * Economist *The most important - and provocative - anthropological field work ever undertaken. -- Tom WolfePraise for Dont Sleep, There are Snakes:A worldwide bestseller that finds no competition from linguistic researchers. * New Scientist *A remarkable book. It is written with an immediacy even a Piraha might envy, and its conjunction of physical and intellectual adventure is irresistible. * Sunday Times * Promotional A revolutionary account of the origins of language from one of the worlds best known and most influential linguists Long Description A revolutionary account of the origins of language from one of the worlds best known and most influential linguists. In his groundbreaking new book Daniel Everett seeks answers to questions that have perplexed thinkers from Plato to Chomsky: when and how did language begin? What is it? And what is it for? Daniel Everett confounds the conventional wisdom that language originated with Homo sapiens 150,000 years ago and that we have a language instinct. Drawing on evidence from a wide range of fields, including linguistics, archaeology, biology, anthropology and neuroscience, he shows that our ancient ancestors, Homo erectus, had the biological and mental equipment for speech one and half million years ago, and that their cultural and technological achievements (including building ocean-going boats) make it overwhelmingly likely they spoke some kind of language. How Language Began sheds new light on language and culture and what it means to be human and, as always, Daniel Everett spices his account with incident and anecdote. His book is convincing, arresting and entertaining. Review Text Very few books on the biological and cultural origin of humanity can be ranked as classics. I believe that Daniel Everetts How Language Began will be one of them. Promotional "Headline" A revolutionary account of the origins of language from one of the worlds best known and most influential linguists Details ISBN1781253935 Author Daniel Everett Pages 352 Publisher Profile Books Ltd Year 2018 ISBN-10 1781253935 ISBN-13 9781781253939 Format Paperback Publication Date 2018-09-06 Media Book Imprint Profile Books Ltd Place of Publication London Country of Publication United Kingdom DEWEY 401 Illustrations c. 60 half-tone and line printed in text Affiliation Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bentley University Short Title How Language Began Language English UK Release Date 2018-09-06 AU Release Date 2018-09-06 Edition Description Main Subtitle The Story of Humanitys Greatest Invention Alternative 9781781253922 Audience General NZ Release Date 2018-11-27 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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