I just finished reading the book"The First Word, the search for the Origins of Language" by Christine Kenneally. It is on the evolution of language, a history of the research on that subject. I found it a really good book. It includes the research into gestures as part of the evolution.
Also anything by Steven Pinker would pique your interest.;D
Pinker’s always great reading. His "The Language Instinct" made me forever give up taking grammarians seriously until they update their 100 year old methods of analyzing language and engage in some serious talks with linguists.
Yeah, just about anything by Pinker is great. He’s got one book that’s not for general readership, though, that is somewhat stiff going. It’s a fascinating look at how the brain processes grammar in a couple of different places and ways.
It’s kind of interesting that there are "high level" hand gestures that are not universal.
Once upon a time when I was in the service we got briefings before entering foregin countries. A one-finger (middle one) salute in America does not measure up to an open-hand wave in Greece which is like the finger times five, and there was some gesture in Italy (I don’t remember exactly) that could get you into a fight.
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I just finished reading the book"The First Word, the search for the Origins of Language" by Christine Kenneally. It is on the evolution of language, a history of the research on that subject. I found it a really good book. It includes the research into gestures as part of the evolution.
Also anything by Steven Pinker would pique your interest.;D
Pinker’s always great reading. His "The Language Instinct" made me forever give up taking grammarians seriously until they update their 100 year old methods of analyzing language and engage in some serious talks with linguists.
Yeah, just about anything by Pinker is great. He’s got one book that’s not for general readership, though, that is somewhat stiff going. It’s a fascinating look at how the brain processes grammar in a couple of different places and ways.
You can hardly go wrong with him.
It’s kind of interesting that there are "high level" hand gestures that are not universal.
Once upon a time when I was in the service we got briefings before entering foregin countries. A one-finger (middle one) salute in America does not measure up to an open-hand wave in Greece which is like the finger times five, and there was some gesture in Italy (I don’t remember exactly) that could get you into a fight.
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