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Author Topic:   "Human Language and Our Reptilian Brain" by Philip Lieberman
Ben!
Member (Idle past 1398 days)
Posts: 1161
From: Hayward, CA
Joined: 10-14-2004


Message 1 of 1 (162504)
11-23-2004 2:12 AM


Hi all,
I finished this book about a month ago. In it, Lieberman takes a stand against 'language organ' and 'language is special' proponents (e.g. Chomsky, Pinker) by:
- breaking down language into existing cognitive skills
- giving evolutionary arguments for the development and constraints on language, to show what aspects of language MUST be special, and which can be explained via existing mechanisms
- analyzing beyond the cereberal cortex, and putting a focus on subcortical (i.e. phylogenically more primitive) structures.
Overall, it was a good read. Lieberman's analysis focuses much more on phonology and the specific human structures involved in speech production.
The strengths of the book lie in his arguments in response to Chomsky and Pinker's claims that language is special, that acquisition is done by a structure special to language, and that syntax is the key feature of language. The book is also strong for its analysis of acoustic features of language, and for the biological and physical analysis of current (human and non-human (and past; e.g. human ancestors) structures responsible for language production.
The weakness in the book lies in Lieberman's hand-waving arguments describing a scenario for the evolution of language. The problem is so ill-posed (i.e. the backwards problem has many solutions that fit the current data) that it cannot convincingly show evidence for the case, nor can it convincingly show that no other scenario would fit the data.
However, for those interested in a biologically sound analysis of speech production and neuronal structures involved in language production, comparative studies of those structures in other species and human ancestors, and finally a proposed history of the selective pressures important in developing human language, this is an excellent book to start with.
Thanks!
Ben

  
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