Talk Talk Talk: Decoding the Mysteries of Speech

by Jay Ingram

With a mixture of erudition and humor, Canadian radio personality Jay Ingram discusses the sociology of the dynamics of conversation, men and women's different propensities for interrupting, and even the proper use of "you know." But he also delves into the mystery-riddled physiology of talking. While we now know that certain areas of the brain seem to control specific aspects of speech—from articulating words to creating meaningful sentences—how do scientists explain the extraordinary case of the young stroke victim who lost only the words for fruits and vegetables? Is it possible that the ability to talk is actually encoded in our genes, as some scientists believe?

From the language roots of North America to the speech differences between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons, from modern children creating whole new languages in one generation to Freudian slips, from talking to yourself to speaking in tongues, Talk, Talk, Talk covers the gamut of humankind's most enigmatic and intriguing skill. Impeccably researched, lively, and accessible, Talk, Talk, Talk is a book you won't be able to keep quiet about.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Linguistics, Language

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Jay Ingram CM (born March 20, 1945) is a Canadian author and broadcaster. He was host of the television show Daily Planet (originally titled @discovery.ca), which airs on Discovery Channel Canada, since the channel's inception in 1995. Ingram's last episode of Daily Planet aired on June 5, 2011. Ingram announced his retirement but stated he will make guest appearances on Daily Planet. He was succeeded by Dan Riskin. His book The End of Memory: A Natural History of Aging and Alzheimer’s is forthcoming from St. Martin's Press in 2015.

Reviews

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great basic overview of how speech is processed in the brain. A little different from most of the other language books I read, it's not about etymology or language history at all, but rather the physical mechanics of language.

[Hannah Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talker reads book about talking

[Soren Alaric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk Talk Talk is an engaging and thought provoking exploration of one of the most natural things we do yet rarely stop to think about: speech.
What makes this book stand out is its ability to balance science with accessibility. It doesn’t feel overly technical, yet it still dives into complex topics like brain function, language development, and the biological roots of communication. The way it moves between scientific insight and everyday examples makes it easy to stay engaged.
I especially enjoyed how the book explores both the social and biological sides of speech. From conversational habits and interruptions to deeper questions about how language is processed in the brain, it covers a wide range of topics without feeling scattered.
Some of the most fascinating moments come from real life cases and unusual linguistic phenomena like selective language loss or the creation of new languages. These examples add a layer of curiosity that keeps you reading.
Overall, this is a smart, well researched, and accessible read that makes you more aware of something you use every day without thinking.

[Constantine]

Hardcover

[Daniel Callister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really interesting studies.

[Gretchen McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that got me into linguistics! Although I haven't picked it up in at least a decade, so I have no idea whether it's aged well.

[Daniel Callister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really interesting studies.

[Lusine]

I want to read this book in order to achieve more knowledge on language science.