Ideophones and the Evolution of Language

ISBN-13: 9781107069602 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 390 str.

John Haiman

Opis

This book argues that ideophones provide the 'missing link' in our knowledge of how communication has evolved to become the spoken language of today.

Recenzje

'This is a splendid book - lively and stimulating, presenting the ideophone as a source in language phylogenesis and a new role for play in fostering the distinction between 'doing' and 'showing' at the origin. Haiman's style, erudition, and provocative hypothesis invite one into a joyful discussion.' David McNeill, University of Chicago

Spis treści

1. The gestural origin theory of language genesis; 2. What are ideophones?; 3. Lexical origins of ideophones; 4. Suiting the word to the action: oral charades; 5. Ideophones as a possible solution to the ritualization problem; 6. Taming ideophones: from showing to telling; 7. Repetition in the genesis of signs, art, and ideophones.