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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language Hardback - 2009 - 1st Edition

by Dean Falk

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Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with classic anthropology, Falk offers a potent challenge to conventional wisdom about the emergence of human language. 25 b&w illustrations.

Reader reviews for Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

From the publisher

Scientists have long theorized that abstract, symbolic thinking evolved to help humans negotiate such classically male activities as hunting, tool making, and warfare, and eventually developed into spoken language. In Finding Our Tongues, Dean Falk overturns this established idea, offering a daring new theory that springs from a simple observation: parents all over the world, in all cultures, talk to infants by using baby talk or "Motherese." Falk shows how Motherese developed as a way of reassuring babies when mothers had to put them down in order to do work. The melodic vocalizations of early Motherese not only provided the basis of language but also contributed to the growth of music and art.

Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with classic anthropology, Falk offers a potent challenge to conventional wisdom about the emergence of human language.

Details

  • Title Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
  • Author Dean Falk
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 256
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Basic Books, New York
  • Publication date 2009-03-01
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Index, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780465002191 / 0465002196
  • Weight 1 lbs (0.45 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.2 in (23.11 x 16.26 x 3.05 cm)
  • Themes
    • Aspects (Academic): Science/Technology Aspects
  • Category Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy
  • Library of Congress subjects Evolution, Language and languages - Origin
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2008044299
  • Dewey Decimal Code 401

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 03/15/2009, Page 33
  • Choice, 02/01/2010, Page 0
  • New York Review of Books, 10/22/2009, Page 44
  • Publishers Weekly, 01/19/2009, Page 50
  • Reference and Research Bk News, 02/01/2010, Page 246
  • Science Books & Films, 05/01/2009, Page 100

About the author

Dean Falk is Hale G. Smith Professor of Anthropology at Florida State University. She is the author of Braindance and Primate Diversity, and co-author of The Face in the Mirror. Her "putting the baby down" theory, published in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Scientific American, New Scientist, National Geographic, and Newsweek. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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Finding Our Tongues : Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

Finding Our Tongues : Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Dean Falk

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Finding Our Tongues : Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues : Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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Basic Books. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Finding Our Tongues : Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues : Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465002191 / 0465002196
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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Basic Books, 2009. First Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. As New/As New. Large, sturdy book, black spine, dark gray covers, very bright silver lettering on spine, 240 pages, some photographs. DJ glossy blue background with tiny silver illustrations of primate and infant on front and infant on back, white bckground with praise on back. DJ and book, both As New.
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants & the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants & the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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New York: Basic Books, 2009 New York: Basic Books, 2009. First edition, first printing. 8vo. Hard cover binding, 240 pp. New in new dust jacket, protected with an archival-quality mylar cover.
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language
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Finding Our Tongues: Mothers, Infants, and the Origins of Language

by Falk, Dean

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780465002191 / 0465002196
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