Humans never run out of things to say. We explain, we cajole, we gossip, and we flirt--all with the help of language. But how in the space of several million years did we evolve from an ordinary primate that that could not talk to the strange human primate that can't shut up?
In this fascinating, thought-provoking book, Robbins Burling presents the most convincing account of the origins of language ever published, shedding new light on how speech affects the way we think, behave, and relate to each other, and offering us a deeper understanding of the nature of language itself. Burling...

This is a book of two parts. The first six chapters are relatively general. They describe something of the history of English spelling and the factors that have brought so many irregularities to our language. The author argues that the irregular spelling of English is one factor in the disgracefully high rate of illiteracy in the English speaking world, and he describes attempts to reform the spelling of other languages. Korean reforms required centuries, but were ultimately successful. Some reforms have been carried out more quickly, but many have been complete failures. The reasons for the...