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Birdsong, Speech, and Language: Exploring the Evolution of Mind and Brain
Prominent scholars consider the cognitive and neural similarities between birdsong and human speech and language.
- GenresLanguageNonfiction
557 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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March 28, 2023
The book is divided into three sections. The first section introduces the reader to the study of birdsong and its importance as a model for understanding language and its evolution. The second section explores the similarities and differences between birdsong and human speech, including the structure and function of the vocal systems, and the neural mechanisms involved in producing and processing vocalizations. The third section focuses on the evolutionary origins of birdsong and speech, and how they may have emerged from earlier communication systems in birds and primates.
The authors draw on a wide range of scientific disciplines, including neuroscience, linguistics, and evolutionary biology, to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the topic. They use examples from a range of bird species, such as songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds, to illustrate the complexity and diversity of vocal communication in the animal kingdom.
One of the key insights of the book is the idea that birdsong and human speech may have evolved from a common ancestor, and that they share some fundamental neural and cognitive mechanisms. For example, both involve the use of auditory feedback to guide the production of vocalizations, and both rely on complex learning processes that involve exposure to social and environmental cues.
The authors draw on a wide range of scientific disciplines, including neuroscience, linguistics, and evolutionary biology, to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective on the topic. They use examples from a range of bird species, such as songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds, to illustrate the complexity and diversity of vocal communication in the animal kingdom.
One of the key insights of the book is the idea that birdsong and human speech may have evolved from a common ancestor, and that they share some fundamental neural and cognitive mechanisms. For example, both involve the use of auditory feedback to guide the production of vocalizations, and both rely on complex learning processes that involve exposure to social and environmental cues.
Displaying 1 of 1 review