{"product_id":"selfish-sounds-and-linguistic-evolution-a-darwinian-approach-to-language-change-hardback-9780521826716","title":"Selfish Sounds and Linguistic Evolution; A Darwinian Approach to Language Change (Hardback) 9780521826716","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eSelfish Sounds and Linguistic Evolution\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eA Darwinian Approach to Language Change\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis book uses Darwin's evolutionary theory to account for language development and change.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eNikolaus Ritt (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521826716, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 27 May 2004\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e342 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.67 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e'… refreshingly novel, stimulating as well as astounding …' Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThis book takes an exciting perspective on language change, by explaining it in terms of Darwin's evolutionary theory. Looking at a number of developments in the history of sounds and words, Nikolaus Ritt shows how the constituents of language can be regarded as mental patterns, or 'memes', which copy themselves from one brain to another when communication and language acquisition take place. Memes are both stable in that they transmit faithfully from brain to brain, and active in that their success at replicating depends upon their own properties. Ritt uses this controversial approach to challenge established models of linguistic competence, in which speakers acquire, use, and shape language. In Darwinian terms, language evolution is something that happens to, rather than through, speakers, and the interests of linguistic constituents matter more than those of their human 'hosts'. This book will stimulate debate among evolutionary biologists, cognitive scientists and linguists alike.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 2. The historical perspective\u003cbr\u003e 3. Approaching 'language change'\u003cbr\u003e 4. The Darwinian approach\u003cbr\u003e 5. Generalising Darwinism\u003cbr\u003e 6. Towards an evolutionary theory of language\u003cbr\u003e 7. What does all this imply for the study of language change?\u003cbr\u003e 8. How to live with feet, if one happens to be a morph-meme\u003cbr\u003e 9. The prosodic evolution of English word forms or the great trochaic conspiracy\u003cbr\u003e 10. Conclusion.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Philosophy of science [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Philosophy of science\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Philosophy%20of%20science%20%5BPDA%5D%22\"\u003ePDA\u003c\/a\u003e], Psychology [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Psychology\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Psychology%20%5BJM%5D%22\"\u003eJM\u003c\/a\u003e], Linguistics [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Linguistics\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Linguistics%20%5BCF%5D%22\"\u003eCF\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46005913452824,"sku":"9780521826716","price":80.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521826716i_464a2c71-c22c-4e13-aada-da04c4d01e0c.jpg?v=1691368438","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/selfish-sounds-and-linguistic-evolution-a-darwinian-approach-to-language-change-hardback-9780521826716","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}