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The Cambridge Handbook of Biolinguistics

The Cambridge Handbook of Biolinguistics

The Cambridge Handbook of Biolinguistics

Cedric Boeckx, The Catalan Institute for Advanced Studies
Kleanthes K. Grohmann, University of Cyprus
March 2018
Available
Paperback
9781108454100

    Biolinguistics involves the study of language from a broad perspective that embraces natural sciences, helping us better to understand the fundamentals of the faculty of language. This Handbook offers the most comprehensive state-of-the-field survey of the subject available. A team of prominent scholars working in a variety of disciplines is brought together to examine language development, language evolution and neuroscience, as well as providing overviews of the conceptual landscape of the field. The Handbook includes work at the forefront of contemporary research devoted to the evidence for a language instinct, the critical period hypothesis, grammatical maturation, bilingualism, the relation between mind and brain, and the role of natural selection in language evolution. It will be welcomed by graduate students and researchers in a wide range of disciplines, including linguistics, evolutionary biology and cognitive science.

    • The most comprehensive state-of-the-field survey of biolinguistics available
    • Presents a wide variety of theoretical perspectives, appealing to readers with different approaches
    • Includes contributions by prominent scholars from a variety of disciplines

    Reviews & endorsements

    'A thoughtfully constructed and didactically useful perspective on a vibrant, heterogeneous area. Many chapters succeed in illustrating the potential for future interdisciplinary progress in the alignment of linguistics and biology.' David Poeppel, New York University

    'In this comprehensive introduction to biolinguistics, twenty-five chapters by esteemed researchers provide accessible introductions to the field, building bridges between linguistics and biology, evolution, development and neuroscience. A 'must-have' compendium.' Tecumseh Fitch, University of Vienna

    See more reviews

    Product details

    March 2018
    Paperback
    9781108454100
    692 pages
    245 × 170 × 37 mm
    1.22kg
    42 b/w illus. 3 tables
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • 1. Introducing the volume Kleanthes K. Grohmann and Cedric Boeckx
    • 2. Biolinguistics – a historical perspective Lyle Jenkins
    • 3. Biolinguistics yesterday, today and tomorrow Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini
    • 4. The philosophical foundations of biolinguistics James McGilvray
    • Part I. Language Development:
    • 5. (Evidence for) the language instinct Ianthi Maria Tsimpli
    • 6. Sensitive phases in successive language acquisition: the critical period hypothesis revisited Jürgen M. Meisel
    • 7. Discovering word forms and word meanings: the role of phrasal prosody and function words Séverine Millotte, Elodie Cauvet, Perrine Brusini and Anne Christophe
    • 8. Luria's biolinguistic suggestion and the growth of language Ken Wexler
    • 9. Parameters in language acquisition Lisa Pearl and Jeffrey Lidz
    • 10. Bilingualism beyond language: on the impact of bilingualism on executive control Mireia Hernández, Clara D. Martin, Núria Sebastián-Gallés and Albert Costa
    • Part II. Mind, Brain, Behavior:
    • 11. The role of experimental syntax in an integrated cognitive science of language Jon Sprouse and Diogo Almeida
    • 12. Working memory and language processing: theory, data and directions for future research Matthew Wagers and Brian McElree
    • 13. Computational primitives in phonology and their neural correlates Philip J. Monahan, Ellen F. Lau and William J. Idsardi
    • 14. Computational primitives in syntax and possible brain correlates Matthias Schlesewsky and Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky
    • 15. Computational primitives in morphology and possible brain correlates Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky and Matthias Schlesewsky
    • 16. Grounding the cognitive neuroscience of semantics in linguistic theory Liina Pylkkänen, Jonathan Brennan and Douglas Bemis
    • 17. Modularity and descent with modification Gary F. Marcus, Cristina D. Rabaglia and Hugh Rabagliati
    • 18. The role of Broca's area in language function Gregory Hickok
    • 19. Lexical retrieval and breakdown in aphasia and developmental language impairment Naama Friedmann, Michal Biran and Dror Dotan
    • 20. Genetics of language: roots of specific language deficits Antonio Benítez-Burraco
    • Part III. Language Evolution:
    • 21. The cognitive capacities of non-human primates Klaus Zuberbühler
    • 22. Birdsong for biolinguistics Kazuo Okanoya
    • 23. Language, culture and computation: an adaptive systems approach to biolinguistics Simon Kirby
    • 24. Language and natural selection Derek Bickerton
    • 25. The fossils of language: what are they? Who has them? How did they evolve? Sergio Balari, Antonio Benítez-Burraco, Víctor M. Longa and Guillermo Lorenzo.
      Contributors
    • Kleanthes K. Grohmann, Cedric Boeckx, Lyle Jenkins, Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini, James McGilvray, Ianthi Maria Tsimpli, Jürgen M. Meisel, Séverine Millotte, Elodie Cauvet, Perrine Brusini, Anne Christophe, Ken Wexler, Lisa Pearl, Jeffrey Lidz, Mireia Hernández, Clara D. Martin, Núria Sebastián-Gallés, Albert Costa, Jon Sprouse, Diogo Almeida, Matthew Wagers, Brian McElree, Philip J. Monahan, Ellen F. Lau, William J. Idsardi, Matthias Schlesewsky, Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, Liina Pylkkänen, Jonathan Brennan, Douglas Bemis, Gary F. Marcus, Cristina D. Rabaglia, Hugh Rabagliati, Gregory Hickok, Naama Friedmann, Michal Biran, Dror Dotan, Antonio Benítez-Burraco, Klaus Zuberbühler, Kazuo Okanoya, Simon Kirby, Derek Bickerton, Sergio Balari, Víctor M. Longa, Guillermo Lorenzo

    • Editors
    • Cedric Boeckx , The Catalan Institute for Advanced Studies

      Cedric Boeckx is ICREA Research Professor at the Catalan Institute for Advanced Studies and member of the linguistics department at the University of Barcelona.

    • Kleanthes K. Grohmann , University of Cyprus

      Kleanthes K. Grohmann is Associate Professor of Biolinguistics at the University of Cyprus and Director of the Cyprus Acquisition Team.