The Nature of Language (eBook)

Dieter Hillert, born in Germany, is a cognitive scientist and best known for studying language through cognitive, neurobiological and comparative approaches.  He holds positions as an Adjunct Professor and Research Scientist, and is affiliated with San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, and University of Utah.  He also works as a science writer on topics related to mind and brain. 

Preface 6
Introduction 7
Contents 10
About the Author 12
Part I 13
Evolution 13
Chapter 1 14
The Human Lineage 14
1.1 .An Overview 14
1.2 Fossil Evidence 16
References 24
Chapter 2 26
Protomusic and Speech 26
2.1 The Role of Protomusic 26
2.2 Evolutionary Milestones 28
References 34
Chapter 3 36
Genetic Foundations 36
3.1 Language-Related Genes 36
3.2 The Role of the Basal Ganglia 38
References 43
Chapter 4 45
The Rise of Cognition 45
4.1 Comparative Studies 45
4.2 Proto-Cognition 61
References 69
Part II 74
Paradigms 74
Chapter 5 75
The Human Language System 75
5.1 Biological Disposition 75
5.2 Linguistic Wiring 78
References 81
Chapter 6 83
Semantics and Syntax 83
6.1 Sentence Structures 83
6.2 Neural Nets 90
References 94
Chapter 7 96
Lexical Concepts 96
7.1 Constructions 96
7.2 Mental Space 101
References 103
Chapter 8 105
Figurative Language 105
8.1 Lexical Dark Matters 105
8.2 Idioms and Metaphors 106
References 112
Part III 113
Circuits 113
Chapter 9 114
Generating Sentences 114
9.1 Structural Complexity 114
9.2 The Role of Working Memory 122
References 128
Chapter 10 132
Accessing Word Meanings 132
10.1 Lexical Concepts 132
10.2 Figures of Speech 139
References 154
Chapter 11 162
Atypical Language 162
11.1 Aphasia 162
11.2 Communicative Disorders 168
References 175
Chapter 12 184
Language Acquisition 184
12.1 .The Genetic Program 184
12.2 .The Multilingual Brain 186
References 194
Prospects 197
Index 199