The Origin of Language

How We Learned to Speak and Why

De: Madeleine Beekman

Narrado por: Cat Gould

In a radical new story about the birth of our species, The Origin of Language argues that it was not hunting, fighting, or tool-making that forced early humans to speak, but the inescapable need to care for our children.

Journeying to the dawn of Homo sapiens, evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman reveals the “happy accidents” hidden in our molecular biology—DNA, chromosomes, and proteins—that led to one of the most fateful events in the history of life on Earth: our giving birth to babies earlier in their development than our hominid cousins the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Faced with highly dependent infants requiring years of nurturing and protection, early human communities needed to cooperate and coordinate, and it was this unprecedented need for communication that triggered the creation of human language—and changed everything.

Infused with cutting-edge science, sharp humour, and insights into the history of biology and its luminaries, Beekman weaves a narrative that’s both enlightening and entertaining. Challenging the traditional theories of male luminaries like Chomksy, Pinker, and Harari, she invites us into the intricate world of molecular biology and its ancient secrets. The Origin of Language is a tour de force by a brilliant biologist on how a culture of cooperation and care have shaped our existence.

Reseñas de la Crítica

'Looking for “reasons why” in biology can seem a mug’s game: every little biological accident sticks around in the genome, where it rubs up against every other little biological accident, hopelessly entangling causes and effects. Happily, no one dissuaded Beekman, who weaves a gripping, well-evidenced chain of chance between our molecular biology and language, our rarest skill'

'Plenty of theories have been tossed into the evidentiary void . . . mainly by men, but now evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman, of the University of Sydney, has turned her female gaze on the problem . . . Her theory, which she describes as having been hiding in plain sight, is compelling . . . exciting . . . thought-provoking . . . a persuasive case'

'A novel answer to a question that has long confounded evolutionary thinkers . . . Beekman’s reading of the distant past gives us a chance to reckon with just how unnatural it is for parents to go it alone in the present and just how much we might be losing in the process'

'Beekman makes an impressive case for an evolutionary development that brings together our physical limitations, large brain and the years of development required before we can operate independently. This is all done in a lightly handled, readable fashion . . . A fascinating addition to the field'

‘Beekman’s big leap is her proposal that the demands of looking after human babies drove the evolution of complex language . . . it places women and children at the centre. Because science has traditionally been skewed towards the male, ideas about human evolution tended to overly focus on them (“Man the Hunter” and all that) . . . it is good to consider the roles of women and children in the origin of language’

'A rigorous examination of the evolution of human communication. Compelling, thought provoking and hugely entertaining. I learned even as I laughed' (Ashley Ward, biologist and author of The Social Lives of Animals and Sensational)

'Beautiful, playful and all-encompassing. Beekman elegantly delves into that most elusive and tantalizing aspect of our evolution: language. On every page there's something that makes you smile and think, "I didn't know that!"' (Menno Schilthuizen, author of Darwin Comes to Town)

'Beekman uncovers the evolutionary mysteries behind human speech in this riveting exploration of our linguistic past. As artificial intelligence reshapes communication, understanding the deep roots of human language has never been more crucial. A must-read for anyone seeking essential insights to navigate our rapidly evolving technological future' (Dana Suskind, author of 30 Million Words)

'An entertaining and enlightening examination of the roots of speech'

'Writing with wit, Beekman showcases her knack for making complex ideas accessible. The result is an edifying and original foray into a critical aspect of human evolution'