國立虎尾科技大學 |

Selfish sounds and linguistic evolution : = a Darwinian approach to language change /

Record Type:	Language materials, printed : Monograph/item
Title/Author:	Selfish sounds and linguistic evolution :/ Nikolaus Ritt.
Reminder of title:	a Darwinian approach to language change /
remainder title:	Selfish Sounds & Linguistic Evolution
Author:	Ritt, Nikolaus,
Description:	1 online resource (xi, 329 pages) :digital, PDF file(s). :
Notes:	Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
Subject:	Linguistic change. -
Online resource:	https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511486449
ISBN:	9780511486449 (ebook)

Selfish sounds and linguistic evolution : = a Darwinian approach to language change /
Ritt, Nikolaus,1960-

Selfish sounds and linguistic evolution :a Darwinian approach to language change /Selfish Sounds & Linguistic EvolutionNikolaus Ritt. - 1 online resource (xi, 329 pages) :digital, PDF file(s).

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Introduction --1.

This 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.

ISBN: 9780511486449 (ebook)Subjects--Topical Terms:

556497
Linguistic change.

LC Class. No.: P142 / .R58 2004

Dewey Class. No.: 401

Selfish sounds and linguistic evolution : = a Darwinian approach to language change /
LDR:02520nam a22003138i 4500 001 1125258
003 UkCbUP
005 20151005020621.0
006 m|||||o||d||||||||
007 cr||||||||||||
008 240926s2004||||enk o ||1 0|eng|d
020 $a 9780511486449 (ebook)
020 $z 9780521826716 (hardback)
020 $z 9780521120630 (paperback)
035 $a CR9780511486449
040 $a UkCbUP $b eng $e rda $c UkCbUP
050 0 0 $a P142 $b .R58 2004
082 0 0 $a 401 $2 22
100 1 $a Ritt, Nikolaus, $d 1960- $e author. $3 1443368
245 1 0 $a Selfish sounds and linguistic evolution : $b a Darwinian approach to language change / $c Nikolaus Ritt.
246 3 $a Selfish Sounds & Linguistic Evolution
264 1 $a Cambridge : $b Cambridge University Press, $c 2004.
300 $a 1 online resource (xi, 329 pages) : $b digital, PDF file(s).
336 $a text $b txt $2 rdacontent
337 $a computer $b c $2 rdamedia
338 $a online resource $b cr $2 rdacarrier
500 $a Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
505 0 0 $g 1. $t Introduction -- $g 2. $t historical perspective -- $g 3. $t Approaching 'language change' -- $g 4. $t Darwinian approach -- $g 5. $t Generalising Darwinism -- $g 6. $t Towards an evolutionary theory of language -- $g 7. $t What does all this imply for the study of language change? -- $g 8. $t How to live with feet, if one happens to be a morph-meme -- $g 9. $t prosodic evolution of English word forms or the Great Trochaic Conspiracy -- $g 10. $t Conclusion.
520 $a This 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.
650 0 $a Linguistic change. $3 556497
650 0 $a Evolution (Biology) $3 575821
650 0 $a English language $x Phonology, Historical. $3 559800
776 0 8 $i Print version: $z 9780521826716
856 4 0 $u https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511486449