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Language in a Darwinian Perspective
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Language in a Darwinian Perspective Paperback - 2002 - 1st Edition

by Bernard H. Bichakjian


From the publisher

Though it is well-known that nothing makes sense in biology except in the light of evolution, in linguistics the received view is to reject the Darwinian approach. This book breaks the prevailing taboo and argues instead that linguistic features - speech sounds, grammatical distinctions and syntactic strategies - have followed an evolutionary course. Though variation exists and gratuitious changes can be found, an indepth study clearly suggests that on the whole linguistic features have developed under two sets of selections pressures: the pressure to reduce the neuromuscular cost, and the concomitant pressure to find ever-more functional alternatives. Moving on from language to writing, the author argues that the observed optimalization process also applies to the evolution of writing from hieroglyphs to alphabets. Both language and writing are indeed better understood in the light of evolution. Contents: language evolution - language families - language diversity - evolution of writing - theory of evolution - cyclical scenarios - linear models - linguistic theories.

Details

  • Title Language in a Darwinian Perspective
  • Author Bernard H. Bichakjian
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 316
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Peter Lang Publishing
  • Date 2002-04
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index
  • ISBN 9780820454580 / 0820454583
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2002066062
  • Dewey Decimal Code 417.7
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Language in a Darwinian Perspective (Bochum Publications in Evolutionary Cult..
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Language in a Darwinian Perspective (Bochum Publications in Evolutionary Cult..

by Bichakjian, Bernard H

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Peter Lang Pub Inc, 2002-04-01. Paperback. Very Good. 0x5x8. ***Please Read*** No marks on text - My shelf location - bn1-b-57*
Item Price
£16.23
£4.46 shipping to USA