"The collection of chapters contained in this book represent a wide spread of topics..." —Contemporary Psychology
"...the volume urges a reevaluation of current liguistic theory and makes a strong case for interdisciplinary approaches to the study of language." —CHOICE
Contents: Preface. B.M. Velichkovsky, Language Development at the Crossroad of Biological and Cultural Interactions. Part I: Toward a New Theoretical Foundation.S. Harnad, The Origin of Words: A Psychophysical Hypothesis. W. Bechtel, What Knowledge Must Be in the Head in Order to Acquire Language? Part II: Phylogenetic Prerequisites.A. Maryanski, Was Speech an Evolutionary Afterthought? T.W. Deacon, Prefrontal Cortex and Symbol of Learning: Why a Brain Capable of Language Evolved Only Once. Part III: Ontogenesis of Language.M.H. Bornstein, Origins of Communication in Infancy. A.D. Friederici, The Temporal Organization of Language: Developmental and Neuropsychological Aspects. Part IV: Environment and Culture as Shaping Forces.A. Piazza, Genetic Histories and Patterns of Linguistic Change. E. Scheerer, Orality, Literacy, and Cognitive Modeling. Part V: In Place of a Conclusion.D.M. Rumbaugh, E.S. Savage-Rumbaugh, Biobehavioral Roots of Language: Words, Apes, and a Child. M. Tomasello, Cultural Roots of Language.