The Unfolding of Language

March 21, 2005
Using language himself in a lively and engaging way, Deutscher, an expert in Semitic languages at the University of Leiden in Holland, identifies two principles—the desire to create order out of chaotic reality, and the urge to vary the sounds of words and their meanings—providing the direction by which language developed and continues to develop. Rather than search for the prehistoric moment when speech originated, Deutscher says we can most profitably understand the phenomenon by taking the present as the key to the past. Using a wide array of examples, he delves into the back-formation of words (making a noun into a verb), the evolution of relative clauses from simple pointing words (that, this) and the turning of objects into nouns. On the question of whether language is innate, Deutscher takes a middle path, asserting that our brains are wired for basic language, but that linguistic complexity is brought about by cultural evolution. Deutscher's entertaining writing and his knack for telling a good tale about how words develop offer a delightful and charming story of language.

April 1, 2005
The linguistic chain that connects the boasts of an ancient Sumerian monarch to the jests of Groucho Marx is long and convoluted, but Deutscher retraces it, fascinating link by fascinating link, identifying the dynamic processes that have continuously transformed and renewed the world's diverse languages. Even when delving deeply into ancient manuscripts and temple engravings, Deutscher interprets every linguistic mutation as the consequence of evolutionary forces still observable in today's living languages. Readers see in linguistic fossils from Mesopotamia traces of the same conversion of living metaphor into conceptual lattice still taking place in modern English, German, and Indonesian. What Deutscher demonstrates most clearly is how linguistic structures that look like the product of deliberate artifice can emerge from entirely natural processes. Predictably, when he probes the linguistic developments before the advent of writing, the author must frequently substitute his own speculations for solid evidence. Entailing just enough technical detail to tempt readers into professional sources (listed at the book's conclusion), this introduction to fundamental linguistic principles opens to nonspecialists a rich theoretical vista.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2005
A linguistics scholar explains how we got from "Me, Tarzan" to complex grammatical structures. Fun stuff, too, like why the French say On the day of this day instead of today.

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2005
Deutscher (linguistics, Univ. of Leiden, Holland) here takes the reader on a journey through the rich history of language, offering insight into our primary mode of communication as he discusses such topics as word order, shifting meaning, and the permanence of spelling (but not pronunciation) in English. He uses several languages and language families to elucidate his points, relying on their similarities and differences to clarify what would otherwise be a significantly more complex topic; his painstaking research is evident in the notes, glossary, and references. Those who enjoyed Lynn Truss's "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" for its easygoing style and wit will find no comfort here -when all is said and done, this is a tough read. Though linguists and academicians will find it an interesting tromp through the evolution of language, the text is not easily accessible to lay readers. Recommended for academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 1/05.] -Manya Chylinski, Boston

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.