Part 1 Puzzles 3
1 A natural curiosity:How did language begin? 3
Preface by Halliday 10
王宗炎序 11
Preface by Chomsky 14
2 A peculiar habit:what is language for? 16
沈家煊序 21
导读 24
3 The bother at Babel:why do languages differ so much? 26
4 Distinct duties:Is language an independent skill? 38
Foreword to the Canto edition 43
Preface 47
Part 2 Origin 49
5 The family tree:The evolutionary background 49
6 A devious mind:The basic requirements 65
7 Broken air:Inherited ingredients 77
8 Small beginnings:First steps 93
Part 3 Evolution 107
9 The second word:The emergence of rules 107
10 The tower of speech:Expansion 123
11 Time travelling:Extra attachments 135
12 Rebuilding on the high seas:Keeping going 148
Part 4 Diffusion 161
13 The widening circle:Moving outwards 161
14 The hidden core:The hunt for universals 175
15 The real magician:Ruling the rules 187
16 Unweaving the rainbow:Spearating the strands 201
17 The endless stair:Past and future 212
Symbols used in the text 222
Notes and suggestions for further reading 223
References 245
Index 269
文库索引 283