Rudolf Botha

Neanderthal Language (eBook, ePUB)

Demystifying the Linguistic Powers of our Extinct Cousins

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Did Neanderthals have language, and if so, what was it like? Scientists agree overall that the behaviour and cognition of Neanderthals resemble that of early modern humans in important ways. However, the existence and nature of Neanderthal language remains a controversial topic. The first in-depth treatment of this intriguing subject, this book comes to the unique conclusion that, collective hunting is a better window on Neanderthal language than other behaviours. It argues that Neanderthal hunters employed linguistic signs akin to those of modern language, but lacked complex grammar. Rudolf Botha unpacks and appraises important inferences drawn by researchers working in relevant branches of archaeology and other prehistorical fields, and uses a large range of multidisciplinary literature to bolster his arguments. An important contribution to this lively field, this book will become a landmark book for students and scholars alike, in essence, illuminating Neanderthals' linguistic powers.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Cambridge University Press
• Erscheinungstermin: 21. Mai 2020
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781108865449
• Artikelnr.: 62746590

Autorenporträt

Rudolf Botha is Emeritus Professor of General Linguistics, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, and a former Honorary Professor of Linguistics at Utrecht University. Previous works include Language Evolution: The Windows Approach (Cambridge, 2016).

Inhaltsangabe

Part I. Preliminaries: 1. Pursuing an intriguing but murky matter
2. Telltale Neanderthal teeth
Part II. Symbolic behaviours: 3. Making and wearing personal ornaments
4. Producing cave art
5. Beautifying bodies
6. Burying the dead
7. Leaping to language
Part III. Non-symbolic behaviours: 8. Making stone tools
9. Teaching stone-tool making
10. Hunting big game
Part IV. Implications: 11. Dispersing the murk
Notes
References
Index.