Review by Choice Review
Lieberman (Brown Univ.), in another book in the popular field related to language, attempts to give some general answers to the connections between the evolution of the brain and human language. The often-repeated refrain in the volume, FLS (functional language system) is, as the explanation offered, not only a highly technical one but is also as ephemeral a cloak for the large cluster of problems as the previous suggestions of "language organ." But this is just the beginning of jargon. Because of its multidisciplinary roots, this book is rough going at times, particularly when the obscure language of psychological terminology is connected with the equally difficult technicalities of neurology, all with their various subdisciplines. In spite of some of the terminological jungle, this is a thoughtful and scholarly book that is bound to expand the horizons of any (very) well-educated layperson or student who would like a brief review of this dynamic multidisciplinary field that encompasses neurology, primate studies, anthropology, psychology, and of course linguistics. An appropriate book for discussion and debate in a graduate seminar, and will serve professionals who are scholars of human language evolution anywhere along the spectrum of disciplines. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. F. S. Szalay; CUNY Hunter College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
