Bastard Tongues: A Trailblazing Linguist Finds Clues to Our Common Humanity in the World's Lowliest Languages

by Derek Bickerton

Book Overview

Bastard Tongues is an exciting, firsthand story of scientific discovery in an area of research close to the heart of what it means to be human--what language is, how it works, and how it passes from generation to generation, even where historical accidents have made normal transmission almost impossible. The story focuses on languages so low in the pecking order that many people don't regard them as languages at all--Creole languages spoken...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809028166
• ISBN13: 9780809028160
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux-3pl
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic read!

One of my favourite books I've ever read on the subject. The author's other works are great; but I revisit this book every so often. Highly recommended!