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Informationen zum Autor Robbins Burling is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Linguistics at the University of Michigan. He has long been interested in language, human evolution, and comprehension in communication. He has done extensive anthropological and linguistic field research in Bangladesh and northeastern India, and written widely in both subjects. His books include Hill Farms and Padi Fields: Life in Mainland Southeast Asia, The Passage of Power: Studies in Political Succession, Man's Many Voices: Language in its Cultural Context, Sounding Right: Comprehension Based Language Instruction, Patterms of Language: Structure, Variation, Change and The Strong Women of Modhupur. Klappentext Robbins Burling traces language back to its earliest origins among our distant ape-like forbears several million years ago. He examines the qualities of mind and brain needed to support the operations of language; investigates the first links between signs! sounds! and meanings; explores the beginnings and prehistories of vocabulary and grammar; and connects work in field such as linguistics! evolutionary biology! and archaeology. And he does all this in a style thatis crystal-clear! constantly enlivened by wit and humour. Zusammenfassung Traces language back to its earliest origins among our distant ape-like forbears several million years ago. This book examines the qualities of mind and brain needed to support the operations of language; investigates the first links between signs, sounds, and meanings; explores the beginnings and prehistories of vocabulary and grammar; and more. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1: In The Beginning 2: Smiles, Winks, and Words 3: Truths and Lies 4: The Mind and Language 5: Signs and Symbols 6: Icons Gained and Icons Lost 7: From A Few Sounds To Many Words 8: Syntax: Wired and Learned 9: Step By Step To Grammar 10: Power, Gossip, and Seduction 11: What Has Language Done To Us? ...