Innumerable gradations -- Ape language -- Recent human ancestors and the possible origin of words -- Before an infant learns to speak -- The origin of language, words in particular -- Epilogue -- Notes -- References.
Summary:
Herbert S. Terrace revisits his 1970s experiment to teach a chimpanzee language, Project Nim, to offer a novel view of the origins of human language. In contrast to both Noam Chomsky and his critics, Terrace contends that words, as much as grammar, are the cornerstones of language.
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