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Evolutionary linguistics /
"How did the biological, brain and behavioural structures underlying human language evolve? When, why and where did our ancestors become linguistic animals, and what has happened since? This book provides a clear, comprehensive but lively introduction to these interdisciplinary debates. Written...
| Clasificación: | Libro Electrónico |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Otros Autores: | |
| Formato: | Electrónico eBook |
| Idioma: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Cambridge [England] :
Cambridge University Press,
2012.
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| Colección: | Cambridge textbooks in linguistics.
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| Temas: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Texto completo |
Tabla de Contenidos:
- Cover ; Evolutionary Linguistics; Series Page; Title; Copyright; Contents; Figures; Preface; Some necessary background: language and evolution; Aims; Organisation, and how to use this book; Acknowledgements; 1 Evolution and history; 1.1 Overview; 1.2 Evolutionary linguistics; 1.3 Early ideas about the origin of language; 1.3.1 The first language; 1.3.2 Early theories of origin; 1.4 Evolution and history; 1.4.1 Schleicher's distinction; 1.4.2 Evolution by natural selection; 1.4.3 Genes, structures and behaviour; 1.5 Saying 'evolution' without meaning it; 1.6 Beyond evolution?; 1.7 Summary.
- Further readingPoints for discussion; 2 Evidence for evolution; 2.1 Overview; 2.2 The argument from design; 2.3 The critical period hypothesis; 2.4 The argument from poverty of the stimulus; 2.5 Creativity and creolisation; 2.6 Language and the brain; 2.7 'Language genes'; 2.8 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 3 The comparative methods; 3.1 Overview; 3.2 Going backwards to move forwards; 3.3 An outline of the comparative method in linguistics; 3.4 Reconstruction and comparison are time-limited; 3.5 Reconstruction and comparison of morphosyntax; 3.6 Global etymologies.
- 3.7 Limitations on reconstruction3.8 The comparative method in biology; 3.9 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 4 Who, where and when?; 4.1 Overview; 4.2 Biological family trees; 4.2.1 The big picture; 4.2.2 The Animal family tree; 4.3 Beware: falling trees!; 4.4 Hominid histories; 4.4.1 Proto-apes to humans: one simple story; 4.4.2 Introducing complexities; 4.5 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 5 The vocal tract; 5.1 Overview; 5.2 Producing speech sounds; 5.3 Uniquely human?; 5.3.1 Present-day comparisons; 5.3.2 Reconstruction and the fossil record.
- 5.4 Complexities and critiques5.5 Adaptations and complications; 5.6 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 6 Language and the brain; 6.1 Overview; 6.2 Brains and genes: one topic, not two; 6.3 Elementary brain geography; 6.4 Specialisation of the brain for language; 6.4.1 Brain asymmetry and analysis of naturally occurring lesions; 6.4.2 Electrocortical mapping and newer methods; 6.5 Evolution and the human brain; 6.5.1 Stressing similarities; 6.5.2 Size matters?; 6.5.3 Asymmetry and development of specialised structures; 6.6 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion.
- 7 Language and genes7.1 Overview; 7.2 What is a gene, and how does it work?; 7.3 Genes in populations; 7.3.1 Mutation; 7.3.2 Selection; 7.3.3 Drift; 7.3.4 Genes and population histories; 7.3.4.1 Distant histories; 7.3.4.2 More recent population histories; 7.4 Genes in individuals; 7.4.1 Genes and embryogenesis; 7.4.2 Learning and post-natal development; 7.4.3 'Language genes'; 7.4.3.1 Genetic conditions affecting language and the brain; 7.4.3.2 The FOXP2 gene; 7.5 Summary; Further reading; Points for discussion; 8 Big bang or cumulative creep? Saltation versus gradual, adaptive evolution.