Selfish Sounds and Linguistic Evolution: A Darwinian Approach to Language Change - Couverture rigide

Ritt, Nikolaus

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0521826713 ISBN 13 : 9780521826716

Editeur : Cambridge University Press, 2004

Synopsis

This book takes an exciting perspective on language change, by explaining it in terms of Darwin's evolutionary theory. Looking at a number of developments in the history of sounds and words, Nikolaus Ritt shows how the constituents of language can be regarded as mental patterns, or 'memes', which copy themselves from one brain to another when communication and language acquisition take place. Memes are both stable in that they transmit faithfully from brain to brain, and active in that their success at replicating depends upon their own properties. Ritt uses this controversial approach to challenge established models of linguistic competence, in which speakers acquire, use, and shape language. In Darwinian terms, language evolution is something that happens to, rather than through, speakers, and the interests of linguistic constituents matter more than those of their human 'hosts'. This book will stimulate debate among evolutionary biologists, cognitive scientists and linguists alike.

A propos du livre

À propos de l'auteur

Nikolaus Ritt is Professor and Head of the English Department at Vienna University.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Cambridge University Press
• Date d'édition: 2004
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0521826713
• ISBN 13: 9780521826716
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 342
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Avery; https://www.avery.fr/; ; chemin des peupliers 27; Dardilly; France