Book
The origin of language : how we learned to speak and why / Madeleine Beekman.
In a radical new story about the birth of our species, evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman argues that it was not hunting, tool-making, or fighting that led to human speech, but the need to care for our helpless young. This thought-provoking work explores how cooperation and childrearing drove the emergence of language.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781668066058 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: viii, 308 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
- Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
- Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2025.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Communication in anthropology. Human evolution. Language and languages > Origin. Mother and child > Social aspects. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud Branch | 401.9 Bee | 31681010429595 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
Draws from molecular biology, evolutionary theory, and cultural insight to explores how the early birth of human infants led to increased communal care and communication, ultimately sparking the development of language and reshaping our speciesâ social and cognitive evolution. - Baker & Taylor
"Journeying to the dawn of Homo sapiens, evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman reveals the "happy accidents" hidden in our molecular biology-DNA, chromosomes, and proteins-that led to one of the most fateful events in the history of life on Earth: ourgiving birth to babies earlier in their development than our hominid cousins the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Faced with highly dependent infants requiring years of nurturing and protection, early human communities needed to cooperate and coordinate, andit was this unprecedented need for communication that triggered the creation of human language-and changed everything. Infused with cutting-edge science, sharp humor, and insights into the history of biology and its luminaries, Beekman weaves a narrativethat's both enlightening and entertaining. Challenging the traditional theories of male luminaries like Chomksy, Pinker, and Harari, she invites us into the intricate world of molecular biology and its ancient secrets. The Origin of Language is a tour deforce by a brilliant biologist on how a culture of cooperation and care have shaped our existence"-- - Simon and Schuster
In a radical new story about the birth of our species, The Origin of Language argues that it was not hunting, fighting, or tool-making that forced early humans to speak, but the inescapable need to care for our children.
Journeying to the dawn of Homo sapiens, evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman reveals the âhappy accidentsâ hidden in our molecular biologyâDNA, chromosomes, and proteinsâthat led to one of the most fateful events in the history of life on Earth: our giving birth to babies earlier in their development than our hominid cousins the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Faced with highly dependent infants requiring years of nurturing and protection, early human communities needed to cooperate and coordinate, and it was this unprecedented need for communication that triggered the creation of human languageâand changed everything.
Infused with cutting-edge science, sharp humor, and insights into the history of biology and its luminaries, Beekman weaves a narrative thatâs both enlightening and entertaining. Challenging the traditional theories of male luminaries like Chomksy, Pinker, and Harari, she invites us into the intricate world of molecular biology and its ancient secrets. The Origin of Language is a tour de force by a brilliant biologist on how a culture of cooperation and care have shaped our existence.
