An Introduction to Genetics for Language Scientists
Current Concepts, Methods, and Findings

An introduction to genetics aimed at language scientists, with carefully selected concepts, methods and findings exploring language and speech.

Dan Dediu (Author)

9781107001299, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 March 2015

300 pages, 51 b/w illus. 1 map 12 tables
22.9 x 15 x 1.8 cm, 0.61 kg

'How does our genetic make-up contribute to our language ability? This book provides language scientists with a much needed introduction to genetics, providing the necessary background to think intelligently about this question.' Morten H. Christiansen, Co-Director of the Cognitive Science Program, Cornell University, Senior Scientist, Haskins Laboratories, and External Professor, University of Southern Denmark

During the last few decades we have discovered enormous amounts about our genomes, their evolution and, importantly for linguists and language scientists, the genetic foundations of language and speech. Accessible and readable, this introduction is designed specifically for students and researchers working in language and linguistics. It carefully focuses on the most relevant concepts, methods and findings in the genetics of language and speech, and covers a wide range of topics such as heritability, the molecular mechanisms through which genes influence our language, and the evolutionary forces affecting them. Filling a large gap in the literature, this essential guide explores relevant examples including hearing loss, stuttering, dyslexia, brain growth and development, as well as the normal range of variation. It also contains a helpful glossary of terms, and a wide range of references so the reader can pursue topics of interest in more depth.

1. Introduction
2. Nature, nurture, and heritability
3. The molecular bases of genetics
4. Effects of genes on phenotype
5. Linkage disequilibrium and its role in finding genes
6. What do genes actually do?
7. The way forward: exome and genome sequencing
8. Population and evolutionary genetics
9. Interactions between genetic and cultural evolution
10. Conclusions, topics not covered, future directions
Appendix. The computer code
A.1. Simulating contingency tables
A.2. Log Odds Ratio
A.3. Simulating genetic drift
Notes
References
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Genetics [non-medical PSAK], Speech & language disorders & therapy [MMZL], Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR], Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK], Phonetics, phonology [CFH], Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [CFG], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Psycholinguistics [CFD], Linguistics [CF], Language [C]