Name: The First Word
ISBN: 9780670034901

Christine Kenneally

A history of the quest for human language origins is comprised of two intertwined narratives that respectively trace the development of language and the process through which scientists have explored the subject, in an account that also documents the contributions of such figures as Noam Chomsky and Steven Pinker.

The Search for the Origins of Language

The First Word

A history of the quest for the origins of human language traces the evolution of speech and examines the methods used by scientists to explore the subject.

Zoë Schaefer

In the words of Philip Lieberman, pg 298, No. See also: This book was filled with tons of research, experiments, and perspectives within the field (and other fields relating to and working with linguistics), and the way Christine dropped in little exhausted jabs at how disappointed she is with humanity as a whole - her dry humour throughout the entire book, actually - was both a great transitional tool between the data and got me to audibly cackle. Tis the season!

Rob Brogan

I can see I read this book almost 7 years ago but I’m motivated to write a review now because it is STILL relevant (to me) and continues to be a common point of conversation :) 

Also reading The Sixth Extinction right now and while topically different, I feel that it pairs well with this book. Highly recommend both!

The First Word The Search for the Origins of Language

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