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History of Language
It is tempting to take the tremendous rate of contemporary linguistic change for granted. What is required, in fact, is a radical reinterpretation of what language is. Steven Roger Fischer begins his book with an examination of the modes of communication used by dolphins, birds and primates as the first contexts in which the concept of "language" might be applied. As he charts the history of language from the times of Homo erectus, Neanderthal humans and Homo sapiens through to the nineteenth century, when the science of linguistics was developed, Fischer analyses the emergence of language as a science and its development as a written form. He considers the rise of pidgin, creole, jargon and slang, as well as the effects radio and television, propaganda, advertising and the media are having on language today. Looking to the future, he shows how electronic media will continue to reshape and re-invent the ways in which we communicate.
"[a] delightful and unexpectedly accessible book ... a virtuoso tour of the linguistic world."—The Economist
"... few who read this remarkable study will regard language in quite the same way again."—The Good Book Guide
"[a] delightful and unexpectedly accessible book ... a virtuoso tour of the linguistic world."—The Economist
"... few who read this remarkable study will regard language in quite the same way again."—The Good Book Guide
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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September 18, 2024Steven Roger Fischer expertly describes many facets related to language. His first chapter discusses the fact that not only humans use language, but also various animal species. What stands out to me from this chapter is that blue whales produce a sound that is inaudible to us, allowing them to communicate over hundreds of kilometers with perfectly timed notes lasting 128 seconds. Other animal species are also discussed, including ants, bees, birds, and monkeys. It is clear that these species use different 'languages' compared to humanity. Modern human language is a trait that we have likely possessed for at least 35,000 years. Through glottochronology, it is possible to trace the probable geographical origins of many languages back a few thousand years.
Although I do not doubt the expertise of the author, there are a few instances where he seems to be mistaken. For example, the book states that the average European has remained genetically largely unchanged for 50,000 years (while language has evolved). However, the more recent book "Who We Are and How We Got Here" by David Reich paints a very different genetic picture. Additionally, America was probably not colonized 30,000 years ago, but later, and the original writing systems in Latin America developed independently of Eurasia, a point Fischer doubts.
However, these are not major themes in Fischer's work. Other main topics include the origin of language families and writing, the history of linguistics as a science, how society uses language (this chapter was particularly beautifully described), and the future of language.
Fischer indicates that, although the world's population is growing, the number of languages is paradoxically decreasing. He foresees a distant future where only a few languages remain as the world becomes increasingly connected. In the distant future, these languages will likely bear less and less resemblance to modern English, Spanish, or Chinese, as language continues to evolve at an ever-faster pace.
Fischer has crafted a beautiful book that is somewhat theoretical at times, but definitely worth reading.
Although I do not doubt the expertise of the author, there are a few instances where he seems to be mistaken. For example, the book states that the average European has remained genetically largely unchanged for 50,000 years (while language has evolved). However, the more recent book "Who We Are and How We Got Here" by David Reich paints a very different genetic picture. Additionally, America was probably not colonized 30,000 years ago, but later, and the original writing systems in Latin America developed independently of Eurasia, a point Fischer doubts.
However, these are not major themes in Fischer's work. Other main topics include the origin of language families and writing, the history of linguistics as a science, how society uses language (this chapter was particularly beautifully described), and the future of language.
Fischer indicates that, although the world's population is growing, the number of languages is paradoxically decreasing. He foresees a distant future where only a few languages remain as the world becomes increasingly connected. In the distant future, these languages will likely bear less and less resemblance to modern English, Spanish, or Chinese, as language continues to evolve at an ever-faster pace.
Fischer has crafted a beautiful book that is somewhat theoretical at times, but definitely worth reading.
September 7, 2025
نكتفي بهذا القدر
دسم جدا بالمعلومات
و لا يصلح ككتاب صوتي
أظنني سأقرأه مرة أخرى إن شاء الله
دسم جدا بالمعلومات
و لا يصلح ككتاب صوتي
أظنني سأقرأه مرة أخرى إن شاء الله
September 6, 2013
This review also appears on my blog www.silashruparell.com
My one liner: Linguistics for the layman. Families, lineages, and some syntax and grammar deconstruction to show us how the principal language groups have evolved. And some crystal-ball gazing on the future of world languages. Readable and Browsable.
I have always thought that learning a language, writing a good computer programme, and drafting a good contract involve essentially the same discipline (I suspect writing a musical score requires some of the same skills but I don’t know – can anyone enlighten me ?). Steven Roger Fischer takes the evolving and increasingly technical discipline of linguistics and language evolution, and gives us a quick tour in the History of Language.
First off, a small gripe. Split infinitives may or may not annoy people: linguistic conservatives want to preserve the “grammatical rule” that one should not put an adverb in between the two parts of an English infinitive. They would turn Star Trek’s “To Boldly Go” into “Boldly To Go.” And that, Mr Fischer, is the standard refutation that British children are taught in schools regarding the split infinitive rule. Churchill’s famous hypercorrective quip (“This is the sort of English up with which I will not put”), to which you refer (or should that be: “which you refer to” ? J ) is a clever refutation of another so-called grammar rule, but it’s not the split infinitive one, OK ? Right, rant over (though it does make one wonder whether there are any other errors in this book). The book is otherwise fascinating.
It has only been in the twentieth century that Western linguists were able to elucidate the principles of phonemics. But we find out in the History of Language that India’s earliest Sanskrit scholars had already developed the dvhani-sphota relationship in the first half of the millenium. Utterance was the dhvani; permanent linguistic substance, unuttered, was the sphota. Teaching us that language rules are inextricably linked to the philosophy, culture and religion of a society (the Hindu Vedas distinguish between word forms that are written, unwritten, and incapable of being written).
And just as amazingly these scholars adopted a highly efficient and systematic approach to documenting their grammatical forms that any proponent today of efficient computer coding would be proud of:
“Ancient Indian scholars appear to have been obsessed with grammar, seeking to state all rules in the most economical prioritized set: one commentator noted that saving half the length of a short vowel while positing a rule of grammar was ‘equal in importance to the birth of a son’. Word formation rules, applied in a strict set in aphoristic sutras, take precedence; in contrast, Sanskrit’s phonetic and grammatical description is almost wholly assumed.”
Through the study of linguistics valuable insights can be gained into the relationships between people of different regions that disciplines such as genetics are only today discovering. Take for example the recent genetic “discovery” that Y polymorphisms (extremely rare male genetic mutations), are relatively common both in Asian and Finnish populations. This would not be surprising to a scholar of the Finnish language. Since he will tell you that speakers of the Uralic languages in North-Eastern Asia becamce divided into two language families: Samoyed and Finno-Ugric (as an aside, Finno-Ugric is the source language for both Finnish (Finland) and Magyar (Hungary)).
We learn how the discipline of modern linguistics was developed, particularly by scholars in the 19th Century. Franz Bopp (1791-1867) conducted a comparative study of the verbal forms in Sanskrit, Latin, Greek and the Germanic languages, and in particular the inflection (ie the systems of word endings which denote grammar). His principal work Vergleichende Grammatik extended this for all inflected forms, and he also carried out investigations into the relationships of the above with other languages such as Litauen, Armenian, Albanian, and the Celtic and Slavic languages. Hence all falling into the Indo-European family of languages. Bopp is today considered the founding father of the comparative study of the various Indo-European languages.
Fischer also walks us through the process of linguistic change. There are four types of linguistic change: (1) Phonological change (Chaucer’s “hūs” to modern “house” or “haus”), which is a systematic change of sound. Phonological change is the most easily accepted type of change amongst the users of a language; (2) Morphological change (Shakespeare’s “goeth” to modern “goes”), is a systematic change in the form of words, which is not as frequent as phonological change; (3) Syntactic change (“Attorney-General”, the Norman French form, should really be “General Attorney”, under Old English grammar rules), where there is a systematic reordering of words; (4) Semantic change (“cniht” meaning “youth” in Old English, with the “c” pronounced, to “kniht” meaning “military servant” in Middle English with the “k” pronounced, to “knight” meaning person elevated to honourable rank today, without the “k” pronounced”). Semantic change systematically alters the meaning of a word. And of course with the advent of the internet, globalisation and the spread of the English language as the medium of choice, this pace of change accelerates, at least with respect to the English language.
But what of other languages ? Fischer is unambiguously clear that the number of languages in the world will continue to reduce, of around 5,000 languages extant over the last 50,000 years, probably only 4,000 are spoken today, and Fischer thinks that only 1,000 will be spoken at the start of the 21st Century. Fischer postulates (not surprisingly) that English will be the dominant language in centuries to come (although doesn’t rule out some unforeseen occurrence which brings another rich-country language to the fore such as German or Japanese). The other two languages which will be globally prevalent are of course Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. And fast forwarding even further to days when we colonise Mars, we will no doubt see differences evolve between “Earthen English” and “Martian English”.
The benefits of standardisation of language are clear, as they reduce “transaction costs” of interacting across the globe. But of course, as Fischer points out:
“Despite the immediate gains language replacement brings, those who voluntarily give up their language invariably sense a loss of ethnic identity, a defeat by a colonial or metropolitan power (with concomitant sensations of inferiority) and a distressing defection from one’s sacred ancestors. This also entails the loss of oral histories, chants, myths, religion and technical vocabulary, as well as customs and prescribed behaviour.”
This is a short book, and hence very readable, or indeed one that you can dip in and out of at leisure. The section on animal communication is particularly fascinating for example, and it can be read entirely in isolation. Did you know that the blue whale emits probably the most powerful sustained sounds known on Earth ? Its 188-decibel “song” is detectable for hundreds of kilometres, and the perfectly timed notes are emitted at intervals of 128 seconds, or if there is a pause, at exactly 256 seconds. Likewise humpback whales emit “long love songs” used for mating. These are regular sequences of sounds varying widely in pitch and lasting between six and thirty minutes. But when you record these songs and speed them up around 14 times, they apparently sound remarkably like birdsong !
If I had a criticism of the book it would be that it is longer on Proto-Indo European and shorter on Semitic and Asiatic languages, and hence arguably reflects a linguistic-cultural bias of its own.
But that is a minor quibble as it is full of pointers for anyone who wants to study more in this area.
My one liner: Linguistics for the layman. Families, lineages, and some syntax and grammar deconstruction to show us how the principal language groups have evolved. And some crystal-ball gazing on the future of world languages. Readable and Browsable.
I have always thought that learning a language, writing a good computer programme, and drafting a good contract involve essentially the same discipline (I suspect writing a musical score requires some of the same skills but I don’t know – can anyone enlighten me ?). Steven Roger Fischer takes the evolving and increasingly technical discipline of linguistics and language evolution, and gives us a quick tour in the History of Language.
First off, a small gripe. Split infinitives may or may not annoy people: linguistic conservatives want to preserve the “grammatical rule” that one should not put an adverb in between the two parts of an English infinitive. They would turn Star Trek’s “To Boldly Go” into “Boldly To Go.” And that, Mr Fischer, is the standard refutation that British children are taught in schools regarding the split infinitive rule. Churchill’s famous hypercorrective quip (“This is the sort of English up with which I will not put”), to which you refer (or should that be: “which you refer to” ? J ) is a clever refutation of another so-called grammar rule, but it’s not the split infinitive one, OK ? Right, rant over (though it does make one wonder whether there are any other errors in this book). The book is otherwise fascinating.
It has only been in the twentieth century that Western linguists were able to elucidate the principles of phonemics. But we find out in the History of Language that India’s earliest Sanskrit scholars had already developed the dvhani-sphota relationship in the first half of the millenium. Utterance was the dhvani; permanent linguistic substance, unuttered, was the sphota. Teaching us that language rules are inextricably linked to the philosophy, culture and religion of a society (the Hindu Vedas distinguish between word forms that are written, unwritten, and incapable of being written).
And just as amazingly these scholars adopted a highly efficient and systematic approach to documenting their grammatical forms that any proponent today of efficient computer coding would be proud of:
“Ancient Indian scholars appear to have been obsessed with grammar, seeking to state all rules in the most economical prioritized set: one commentator noted that saving half the length of a short vowel while positing a rule of grammar was ‘equal in importance to the birth of a son’. Word formation rules, applied in a strict set in aphoristic sutras, take precedence; in contrast, Sanskrit’s phonetic and grammatical description is almost wholly assumed.”
Through the study of linguistics valuable insights can be gained into the relationships between people of different regions that disciplines such as genetics are only today discovering. Take for example the recent genetic “discovery” that Y polymorphisms (extremely rare male genetic mutations), are relatively common both in Asian and Finnish populations. This would not be surprising to a scholar of the Finnish language. Since he will tell you that speakers of the Uralic languages in North-Eastern Asia becamce divided into two language families: Samoyed and Finno-Ugric (as an aside, Finno-Ugric is the source language for both Finnish (Finland) and Magyar (Hungary)).
We learn how the discipline of modern linguistics was developed, particularly by scholars in the 19th Century. Franz Bopp (1791-1867) conducted a comparative study of the verbal forms in Sanskrit, Latin, Greek and the Germanic languages, and in particular the inflection (ie the systems of word endings which denote grammar). His principal work Vergleichende Grammatik extended this for all inflected forms, and he also carried out investigations into the relationships of the above with other languages such as Litauen, Armenian, Albanian, and the Celtic and Slavic languages. Hence all falling into the Indo-European family of languages. Bopp is today considered the founding father of the comparative study of the various Indo-European languages.
Fischer also walks us through the process of linguistic change. There are four types of linguistic change: (1) Phonological change (Chaucer’s “hūs” to modern “house” or “haus”), which is a systematic change of sound. Phonological change is the most easily accepted type of change amongst the users of a language; (2) Morphological change (Shakespeare’s “goeth” to modern “goes”), is a systematic change in the form of words, which is not as frequent as phonological change; (3) Syntactic change (“Attorney-General”, the Norman French form, should really be “General Attorney”, under Old English grammar rules), where there is a systematic reordering of words; (4) Semantic change (“cniht” meaning “youth” in Old English, with the “c” pronounced, to “kniht” meaning “military servant” in Middle English with the “k” pronounced, to “knight” meaning person elevated to honourable rank today, without the “k” pronounced”). Semantic change systematically alters the meaning of a word. And of course with the advent of the internet, globalisation and the spread of the English language as the medium of choice, this pace of change accelerates, at least with respect to the English language.
But what of other languages ? Fischer is unambiguously clear that the number of languages in the world will continue to reduce, of around 5,000 languages extant over the last 50,000 years, probably only 4,000 are spoken today, and Fischer thinks that only 1,000 will be spoken at the start of the 21st Century. Fischer postulates (not surprisingly) that English will be the dominant language in centuries to come (although doesn’t rule out some unforeseen occurrence which brings another rich-country language to the fore such as German or Japanese). The other two languages which will be globally prevalent are of course Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. And fast forwarding even further to days when we colonise Mars, we will no doubt see differences evolve between “Earthen English” and “Martian English”.
The benefits of standardisation of language are clear, as they reduce “transaction costs” of interacting across the globe. But of course, as Fischer points out:
“Despite the immediate gains language replacement brings, those who voluntarily give up their language invariably sense a loss of ethnic identity, a defeat by a colonial or metropolitan power (with concomitant sensations of inferiority) and a distressing defection from one’s sacred ancestors. This also entails the loss of oral histories, chants, myths, religion and technical vocabulary, as well as customs and prescribed behaviour.”
This is a short book, and hence very readable, or indeed one that you can dip in and out of at leisure. The section on animal communication is particularly fascinating for example, and it can be read entirely in isolation. Did you know that the blue whale emits probably the most powerful sustained sounds known on Earth ? Its 188-decibel “song” is detectable for hundreds of kilometres, and the perfectly timed notes are emitted at intervals of 128 seconds, or if there is a pause, at exactly 256 seconds. Likewise humpback whales emit “long love songs” used for mating. These are regular sequences of sounds varying widely in pitch and lasting between six and thirty minutes. But when you record these songs and speed them up around 14 times, they apparently sound remarkably like birdsong !
If I had a criticism of the book it would be that it is longer on Proto-Indo European and shorter on Semitic and Asiatic languages, and hence arguably reflects a linguistic-cultural bias of its own.
But that is a minor quibble as it is full of pointers for anyone who wants to study more in this area.
August 22, 2022
Hiçbir şey katmadı. Kuşların ve memelilerin de kendilerine has dilleri vardır belli bir dereceye kadar konuşurlar cümlesi için kitabın dörtte birini doldurmuş. Hominidlerin dil kullanımı için açıklayıcı olmayan bir dille bazı tartışmalar yapılmış. Ardından dünyadaki dil ailelerinden doyurucu olmayan bir bahis var. Devamında dilin tarihi değil dilbilimin tarihi uzunca anlatılıyor. Her bir dilbilimcinin dilbilime bakış açısı olabilecek en anlaşılmayacak şekilde kayda geçirilmiş. Genel okuyucu için hiçbir şey ifade etmiyor. En son da gelecekle bağlayalım ve dilin işlevleriyle ilgili birkaç kelam edelim diyerek; sözlü mizah ve işaret dili hakkında incir çekirdeğini doldurmayacak şekilde bahsedilmiş. Merkezileşme ve globalleşme arttıkça dünya dillerinin azalacağından bahsedilip internetin kelime dağarcığımıza yeni sözcükler kattığı belirtilmiş ve kitap sonlandırılmış.
Çeviri de ayrıca kötü. Anlatım bozukluğu vs mevcut o kadar kötü. Uylaşımsal, sözce vs ne demek olduğunu kimsenin bilmediği kelimelerle 250 sayfa doldurulmuş. Vakit kaybı.
Çeviri de ayrıca kötü. Anlatım bozukluğu vs mevcut o kadar kötü. Uylaşımsal, sözce vs ne demek olduğunu kimsenin bilmediği kelimelerle 250 sayfa doldurulmuş. Vakit kaybı.
May 18, 2021
"In its most universal meaning, language is the nexus of the animate world, its limits drawn only by humankind’s crayon."
October 9, 2023
kitabı keşfedip listeme eklerken çok daha fazla beklentim vardı nedense, ama pek umduğum kadar kapsamlı bir tarih bulamadım. yine de dönemin açılışı, dilbilim çevresinde gezinen derslerim için yumuşak bir giriş olmuş oldu.
kitap genel hatlarıyla popüler bilim kitabı niteliğinde, aman aman alan kitabı diyemeyiz ama güzel kitap.
kitap genel hatlarıyla popüler bilim kitabı niteliğinde, aman aman alan kitabı diyemeyiz ama güzel kitap.
February 18, 2018
"dil en değerli insan kaynağıdır" diye bitiriyor yazar kitabı. elbette kitabı okumadan önce bu gerçeği bu kadar açık farketmek mümkün olamayabilir. bir şekilde maruz kalarak öğrendiğimiz ve hayatımızın geri kalan kısmında da çoğunlukla düşünmeden kullanmaya devam ettiğimiz bir olgu dil. halbuki diğer her şey gibi dilin de hızla değişime uğradığı şu modern sonrası zamanlarda biraz daha farkındalık gerektiren bir konu.
dili itibariyle popüler bilim dizilerine yakın yani dilbilimci olmayanların da keyifle okuyabileceği doyurucu bir kitap.
dili itibariyle popüler bilim dizilerine yakın yani dilbilimci olmayanların da keyifle okuyabileceği doyurucu bir kitap.
October 8, 2017
Highly informative. If one is ever curious about the evolution of language, this book should be read.
As far I will always remember from the book, that is our cultural interactions and word transfers from different languages beyond an assimilation, an enrichment. Though, this aspect should have been discussed more clear, while there were a lot of contradictions, that the author remarks the examples, that new interactions which led the loss of a language.
As far I will always remember from the book, that is our cultural interactions and word transfers from different languages beyond an assimilation, an enrichment. Though, this aspect should have been discussed more clear, while there were a lot of contradictions, that the author remarks the examples, that new interactions which led the loss of a language.
November 7, 2020
Dilbilimine giriş için okunabilecek güzel bir kitap. Kitabı okumadan önce bu alanla ilgili hiçbir şey bilmeye gerek yok, yazar hemen hemen her şeyi açıklıyor. Hayvanlar arasında iletişimin nasıl sağlandığı, ilk dilin oluşumu, dil aileleri, soyağaçları, yazının tarihi, dillerin geleceği vb. birçok konu kitap boyunca ele alıyor.
Yazarın bazı bölümlerde ayarını kaçırıp okuyucuyu aşırı ayrıntıya boğması dışında kitabı genel olarak beğendim.
Yazarın bazı bölümlerde ayarını kaçırıp okuyucuyu aşırı ayrıntıya boğması dışında kitabı genel olarak beğendim.
May 1, 2014
Good attempt to explain language from an evolutionary perspective. The chapters on Language Families pack too much information which in my opinion could be greatly improved by some illustrations, since the continuous enumeration of language families and affiliations is not very helpful in itself although you can get the general picture.
July 23, 2020
The information contained in the book is very interesting but the prose! It's like reading Wikipedia.
May 6, 2025
“Dil başlamadı. Dil, sayısız biçimiyle yüz milyonlarca yıllık evrim süreciyle oluştu” (s.8)
“Karıncaların tür sayısı 12 000 ile 14 000 arasındadır. Bu türlerin her kolonisinde bir milyon ya da daha fazla karınca bulunur. Yeryüzünde yaşamaya elverişli hemen hemen her noktasını işgal eden karıncalar insanlardan çok daha kalabalıktır, nüfusları trilyonları bulur” (s.3)
“Wittgenstein şöyle demiştir: “Eğer bir aslan konuşabilseydi, biz onu anlamazdık” (s.24)
“İnsan sözlü dili, yüz binlerce yıl boyunca, insan beyni ve konuşma organlarının gelişmesiyle eşzamanlı olarak evrim geçirmiştir” (s.50)
“Toplumsal karmaşıklık arttı. İnsanlar nesiller boyunca bir yerde yerleşik kaldılar. İlk kerpiç kasabalar ortaya çıktı. Bölgesel diller, daha etkili hale geldi ve yabancı topraklarda belirli bir coğrafi bölgenin dili olarak kabul edildiler. İNSAN DİLİ, artık toprağa bağlıydı” (s.52)
“Bugün, uygarlaşma sürecini bir mekanizmaya benzetecek olursak, yazı yazmayı bu mekanizmanın yağı gibi değerlendirmenin daha uygun olduğu kabul edilmektedir. Yazı toplumsal gelişmeye yol açmamış, yalnızca toplumsal değişimi büyük ölçüde kolaylaştırmıştır” (s.83)
“Zamanla başka br eğilim daha belirgin hale gelmiştir. Paradoksal olarak dünyada insan nüfusu çoğaldıkça, dillerin sayısı azalmıştır” (s.136)
“Yaşayan bütün diller sürekli değişim geçirirler. Dilde değişim özellikle yazı dilinde belirgindir. Örneğin Shakespeare okurken bu değişiklik hemen anlaşılır. En az belirgin olan değişim, gerçekleşmekte olan ya da devam eden değişimdir. Büyükanne ve büyükbabaların kullandığı yalnızca bir sözcük ya da sözcüğün bir ünlü harfi torununa biraz tuhaf görünebilir. Tersinden bakarsak, her kuşak, bir sonraki kuşağın konuşmalarını uygunsuz bulur” (s.174)
“Karıncaların tür sayısı 12 000 ile 14 000 arasındadır. Bu türlerin her kolonisinde bir milyon ya da daha fazla karınca bulunur. Yeryüzünde yaşamaya elverişli hemen hemen her noktasını işgal eden karıncalar insanlardan çok daha kalabalıktır, nüfusları trilyonları bulur” (s.3)
“Wittgenstein şöyle demiştir: “Eğer bir aslan konuşabilseydi, biz onu anlamazdık” (s.24)
“İnsan sözlü dili, yüz binlerce yıl boyunca, insan beyni ve konuşma organlarının gelişmesiyle eşzamanlı olarak evrim geçirmiştir” (s.50)
“Toplumsal karmaşıklık arttı. İnsanlar nesiller boyunca bir yerde yerleşik kaldılar. İlk kerpiç kasabalar ortaya çıktı. Bölgesel diller, daha etkili hale geldi ve yabancı topraklarda belirli bir coğrafi bölgenin dili olarak kabul edildiler. İNSAN DİLİ, artık toprağa bağlıydı” (s.52)
“Bugün, uygarlaşma sürecini bir mekanizmaya benzetecek olursak, yazı yazmayı bu mekanizmanın yağı gibi değerlendirmenin daha uygun olduğu kabul edilmektedir. Yazı toplumsal gelişmeye yol açmamış, yalnızca toplumsal değişimi büyük ölçüde kolaylaştırmıştır” (s.83)
“Zamanla başka br eğilim daha belirgin hale gelmiştir. Paradoksal olarak dünyada insan nüfusu çoğaldıkça, dillerin sayısı azalmıştır” (s.136)
“Yaşayan bütün diller sürekli değişim geçirirler. Dilde değişim özellikle yazı dilinde belirgindir. Örneğin Shakespeare okurken bu değişiklik hemen anlaşılır. En az belirgin olan değişim, gerçekleşmekte olan ya da devam eden değişimdir. Büyükanne ve büyükbabaların kullandığı yalnızca bir sözcük ya da sözcüğün bir ünlü harfi torununa biraz tuhaf görünebilir. Tersinden bakarsak, her kuşak, bir sonraki kuşağın konuşmalarını uygunsuz bulur” (s.174)
February 18, 2025
"İnsanı başka canlılardan farklı kılan nedir? Biz artık alet yapan türler olarak tanımlanamayız. Artık dil üzerinde imtiyaz sahibi olmadığımız da anlaşılıyor. Belki de insanlar, 'daha incelikli bir iletişimi geliştiren ve böylece kendilerine benzersiz yararlar sağlayan hayvanlardır."
"19. yüzyılda, İngiliz politikacı Thomas Massey, İngilizcede Katolik etkisine karşı çıkmış ve Catholic mass'e (Katolik ayini) atıfta bulunmaktan kaçınmak için Avam Kamarası'na, Christmas'ın (Noel) Christ-tide olarak yeniden adlandırılmasını önermiştir. Başbakan Benjamin Disraeli, ayağa kalkıp Thomas Massey'ye kendi ismini de 'Tom-tide Tidey' olarak değiştirmeye hazır olup olmadığını sorduğunda mesele kapanmıştır."
"Soğuk Savaş'tan sonra 20. yüzyılın sonlarında bile, Pentagon hâlâ bombalar için "dikey olarak kullanılan anti-personel düzenekler" ifadesini kullanıyordu."
"Erken dönemlerden bir kâtip, "Bir çocuğun kulakları sırtındadır" diye yazmıştı, “Çünkü çocuk ancak dövüldüğü zaman, en iyi şekilde dinler.""
Steven Fischer’ın üçlemesinin ilk kitabı olan Dilin Tarihi, yalnızca insan dilinin değil, hayvanlardaki iletişim biçimlerinin de izini süren, dilin evrimsel gelişimini en eski insan türlerinden günümüze kadar ele alan kapsamlı bir eser. Dilin nasıl ortaya çıktığını, nasıl değiştiğini ve kültürle nasıl şekillendiğini merak edenler için oldukça ilgi çekici bir okuma. Konuya ilginiz varsa kesinlikle tavsiye ederim. Serinin diğer iki kitabı Yazının Tarihi ve Okumanın Tarihini de ilerleyen zamanlarda okumayı planlıyorum.
"19. yüzyılda, İngiliz politikacı Thomas Massey, İngilizcede Katolik etkisine karşı çıkmış ve Catholic mass'e (Katolik ayini) atıfta bulunmaktan kaçınmak için Avam Kamarası'na, Christmas'ın (Noel) Christ-tide olarak yeniden adlandırılmasını önermiştir. Başbakan Benjamin Disraeli, ayağa kalkıp Thomas Massey'ye kendi ismini de 'Tom-tide Tidey' olarak değiştirmeye hazır olup olmadığını sorduğunda mesele kapanmıştır."
"Soğuk Savaş'tan sonra 20. yüzyılın sonlarında bile, Pentagon hâlâ bombalar için "dikey olarak kullanılan anti-personel düzenekler" ifadesini kullanıyordu."
"Erken dönemlerden bir kâtip, "Bir çocuğun kulakları sırtındadır" diye yazmıştı, “Çünkü çocuk ancak dövüldüğü zaman, en iyi şekilde dinler.""
Steven Fischer’ın üçlemesinin ilk kitabı olan Dilin Tarihi, yalnızca insan dilinin değil, hayvanlardaki iletişim biçimlerinin de izini süren, dilin evrimsel gelişimini en eski insan türlerinden günümüze kadar ele alan kapsamlı bir eser. Dilin nasıl ortaya çıktığını, nasıl değiştiğini ve kültürle nasıl şekillendiğini merak edenler için oldukça ilgi çekici bir okuma. Konuya ilginiz varsa kesinlikle tavsiye ederim. Serinin diğer iki kitabı Yazının Tarihi ve Okumanın Tarihini de ilerleyen zamanlarda okumayı planlıyorum.
July 25, 2025
Dilin insanlığın izlerini takip etmek için önemi aşikar. Kitapta doğadaki canlılar arasındaki iletişimden ilk insan dillerinin gelişimine bir başlangıç sonrası, dil aileleri, ilişkileri , gelişimleri üzerine bölümlerin peşinden , bir miktar dil biliminin gelişimine değiniliyor. Bu bölümler dil ile çok ilgisi olmayanlar için bilgi verici olmakla beraber , aynı nedenle sıkıcı olabilir. Sonra dil ve toplum üzerine bir bölüm ile dilin gelişim ve değişimi üzerine daha bilinen örneklerle biraz daha ilginç hale geliyor. Üzerine çok daha fazla şey yazılabilecek baskın diller , baskınlık nedenleri , etkileri vs konulara bir miktar değiniyor. Arada programlama dilleri gibi biraz zorlama , “dildir dokunulmadan kalmasın “ tarzı bölümler var. Bunlar da daha ilginç anlatılabilirmiş. Dilin geleceği konusundaki tahmin biraz futuristik olma açısından yazılmış gibi ama futuristik senaryolar çok daha zengin ihtimallere sahip. Genel olarak dil aileleri ve etkileşimleri üzerine bilgi sahibi olmak için , dille ilgili ama başlangıç noktasındaki okuyucu için.
October 24, 2024
I really enjoyed it! I found the research regarding language in other species, not restricted to cousins of Sapiens, incredibly interesting. It seems the increasing prevalence of machine learning and AI will only generate further insights.
I also greatly appreciated the perspective that nearly all linguistic change is positive, as it begets some kind of advantage for speakers of said language. This is not a perspective I’d previously held, and I think Fischer’s argument is compelling.
It’s likely not been enough time since it was written to truly judge his predictions regarding future shifts in language, but there were certainly some of his suggestions that seemed to resonate with more modern changes.
Good book, I expect I will re-read at some point in the future!
I also greatly appreciated the perspective that nearly all linguistic change is positive, as it begets some kind of advantage for speakers of said language. This is not a perspective I’d previously held, and I think Fischer’s argument is compelling.
It’s likely not been enough time since it was written to truly judge his predictions regarding future shifts in language, but there were certainly some of his suggestions that seemed to resonate with more modern changes.
Good book, I expect I will re-read at some point in the future!
November 7, 2022
Çoğu kişi tarafından anlaşılabilecek seviyede yazılmış bir kitap. Dile ve iletişime çok yönlü bakıyor. Sadece insana değil hayvanlara da değiniyor sonrasında da insan dillerini de inceliyor. Meraklılar için vazgeçilmez bir yapıt.
September 17, 2018
Feels more like the history of linguistics than language. Personally, it's lacking aspects of how languages affects human thoughts and emotions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2019
Outstanding book, does a wonderful job of giving a broad overview of the field. Although if you are unfamiliar to linguistic then a device with Google is essential.
May 3, 2020
Interesting if you are an SLP major. :)
June 10, 2021
Broad overview understandably, for the breadth, lacking depth. A compelling introduction in some parts dated.
November 1, 2021
Dil nedir, dil antropolojisi nedir, dilbilimi nedir öğrenmek isteyen biri için biraz zorlayıcı ama bence muazzam bir kitap💗
October 9, 2024
هذا الكتاب مدخل مهم لفهم تطور اللغات عبر التاريخ وكيفية تقسيمها إلى أشجار عائلة والمعايير المتبعة لها بالإضافة إلى تفكيك قواعد اللغة والنحو لنبين لنا كيف تطورت المجموعات اللغوية الرئيسية.
إضافة لكل هذا يتحدث الكاتب عن الأحداث التاريخية والتغيرات الاجتماعية والتطورات التكنولوجية والتي أثرت على تطور اللغات وتغير المصطلحات.
بدأ الكتاب بشكل ممل بعض الشيء حين تحدث عن البدايات لتطور اللغة ما بين الحيوانات وأيضا ما بين الناس البدائيين، ثم بدأ التدفق الهائل للمعلومات بطريقة تصعب تذكرها، إلا أن الكتاب مهم للجميع أن يقرؤوه، لا سيما أخصائيي اللغات والإعلاميين وأخصائيي النوع الاجتماعي (الجندرة)
ينصح بشدة.
إضافة لكل هذا يتحدث الكاتب عن الأحداث التاريخية والتغيرات الاجتماعية والتطورات التكنولوجية والتي أثرت على تطور اللغات وتغير المصطلحات.
بدأ الكتاب بشكل ممل بعض الشيء حين تحدث عن البدايات لتطور اللغة ما بين الحيوانات وأيضا ما بين الناس البدائيين، ثم بدأ التدفق الهائل للمعلومات بطريقة تصعب تذكرها، إلا أن الكتاب مهم للجميع أن يقرؤوه، لا سيما أخصائيي اللغات والإعلاميين وأخصائيي النوع الاجتماعي (الجندرة)
ينصح بشدة.
September 29, 2023
More of an overview of lingusitics/kind od history of language. It also assumes too much knowledge or asumes you’ll look up linguistic terms on your own, yet claims its for the unitiated. So whats the point?
I did learn some interesting facts and history but if I didnt have some pre-existing familiarity with linguistics and the history of language I would have been completely lost.
I did learn some interesting facts and history but if I didnt have some pre-existing familiarity with linguistics and the history of language I would have been completely lost.
June 15, 2013
I liked that the book began with a thorough analysis of the vocalizations and gestures of non-human animals...that allowed the story to continue building one what humans do with language that is remarkable and unique. The chapter on writing was good, and in general Fisher does a really good job keeping his eye on the real subject - how language is used - and doesn't fall into traps about how it is represented. I have to admit I got a little creeped out at the end where he wrote about language and society and seemed not to be taking seriously the issue of 'political correctness'. This has become a bit of a distraction in American culture, to the point where some pundits are proud of their political incorrectness, but Fisher must realize that the perpetual use of language to re-enforce unfair power relations - the issue at the heart of the debate - is not something to be taken lightly. I'm still looking forward to Fisher histories of writing and reading, but I'll be reading them with a more critical eye after this...
December 29, 2007
The history of language is a fascinating thing. It's a tough thing to trace in some cultures where writing wasn't developed, and where writing was developed we can only guess what it sounded like before audio recording equipment was developed. This book give a good history of all we know about language starting from first principles of where language developed and how it works in lower animals.
The evolution of European languages is what I was most interested in, and I'm pleased with the depth that Fischer goes into. Prose is a difficult medium to use to get across the spread of languages though, and I think that better use of diagrams and maps would have been in order. (Ideally, an animation would be the only way to truly explain it.)
The only other problem I had with this book was the chapter about the history of the study of linguistics, which I didn't find terribly interesting, and I skipped to the end of that part.
Still a good read though.
The evolution of European languages is what I was most interested in, and I'm pleased with the depth that Fischer goes into. Prose is a difficult medium to use to get across the spread of languages though, and I think that better use of diagrams and maps would have been in order. (Ideally, an animation would be the only way to truly explain it.)
The only other problem I had with this book was the chapter about the history of the study of linguistics, which I didn't find terribly interesting, and I skipped to the end of that part.
Still a good read though.
August 6, 2012
Interesting for those who are interested in the subject (me!) but it's not always an easy tiptoe through the linguistic tulips. Aimed at those with a general knowledge of language who are going on to a deeper study of linguistics, I think this book is sometimes a little too out of reach if you're not already familiar with some of the terms and concepts that are discussed. I've read a lot about languages (if not about linguistics) but I found myself scratching my head at least a few times per chapter, especially when the text became a laundry list of description or an involved explication or comparison of things that hadn't been explained in depth to begin with.
More often than not, though, this is a really interesting and informative look at not only how we define language, but also how we think language came about and how that knowledge has been acquired, collected, studied, and interpreted.
Recommended for the dedicated language enthusiast.
More often than not, though, this is a really interesting and informative look at not only how we define language, but also how we think language came about and how that knowledge has been acquired, collected, studied, and interpreted.
Recommended for the dedicated language enthusiast.
October 18, 2011
A fascinating and well-rounded book!
I aspire to be a multi-linguist, and reading this book has really improved my acquisition and ability to communicate in foreign languages.... even though it's a history book and has nothing to do with the actual learning of a foreign language. Dispelling myths about the origins of language, connecting the evolutionary dots and getting back to the fundamental reason why language exists (to communicate) has been inspirational as well as helpful.
My only wish is that the middle was as flowing and enjoyable to read as the beginning and end.... it would then be the perfect book.
I aspire to be a multi-linguist, and reading this book has really improved my acquisition and ability to communicate in foreign languages.... even though it's a history book and has nothing to do with the actual learning of a foreign language. Dispelling myths about the origins of language, connecting the evolutionary dots and getting back to the fundamental reason why language exists (to communicate) has been inspirational as well as helpful.
My only wish is that the middle was as flowing and enjoyable to read as the beginning and end.... it would then be the perfect book.
February 22, 2011
pretty interesting stuff though some of the chapters go a bit more into trivial details than is probably interesting to anyone. and other parts i would have liked to go into more detail than they did. on the whole good introduction to lots of ideas, but the author didn't really seem to do anything particularly amazing (nor particularly bad). then again maybe i'm just full of shit cos i dont know much about anything!
June 17, 2017
3,5. Empieza genial, con ejemplos bastante interesantes. Después, el tema histórico me aburrió un poco porque... demasiados datos. Aún asi, después remonta, porque habla de lengua-sociedad-futuro, con un análisis bastante peculiar que me gustó.
January 25, 2025
كتاب ممتع عند قراءته، لكنه غير واضح ولا يبقى منه شيء بعد فترة. أطروحة الكاتب يجب أن تكون واضحة كالشمس في الصفحات الأولى لأن غيابها يجعل الكتاب مفككا كتجميعة مقالات. ولا أتذكر أني فهمت الاطروحة.
* لا يصلح ككتاب صوتي على الإطلاق بسبب ثقل محتواه
* لا يصلح ككتاب صوتي على الإطلاق بسبب ثقل محتواه
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