Review of Speech! How Language Made Us Human

[Elisa Joy Ocasla]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Speech! How Language Made Us Human" by Simon Prentis.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Humans have an innate ability to communicate, making us one of only a few species that possess it. In addition, the notion that modern languages are different from those spoken in earlier times is something that has made us unaware of how unique the art of language can be. Nonetheless, the simple reason is that language is an ever-evolving and dynamic concept. What is the significance of language in our daily lives, and when and how did we first learn to speak it? To learn more about the history of language, check out Simon Prentis' excellent book, Speech! How Language Made Us Human, which claims to be more than just another language textbook. 
 
I adore Simon's notion that if we don't have language, we're all on our own, vulnerable to the worst horrors of our minds and confined to home comforts and primal guile. One crisis is that, without words, there are no beginnings or ends to things, and so there is nothing to measure the distance between them, which means that there could be no culture, technology, or civilization. I wholeheartedly concur with this, as well as many of his other assertions. Even though it wasn't a comprehensive textbook concerning linguistics, I learned a lot about language history and witnessed some stories from the past that I hadn't heard of before.
 
Language is, in fact, the ultimate competitive advantage. It is a game-changer because it enables us to pool our collective intelligence and knowledge. For one thing, being born into a world where language is spoken means that we are no longer confined to our own thoughts and perceptions but may instead draw on those of our entire community, creating a collective mind. What matters are ideas, and language is the medium through which we can communicate them. Almost everything in this book piques my interest, and I can't turn this down. Hence, this piece is flawless for me, and I can’t think of any negatives about this book.
 
Due to the extended enchantment of writing caused by mastering language, we can travel through time and space with words. This book serves as a valuable and educational resource for anyone interested in learning about the origins of the human language. As a result of this book, you'll be exposed to ideas you haven't previously heard about. Many readers will appreciate the effort Simon has put into establishing everything in this book by delivering intriguing narratives and catchy information for the entire audience. Hence, Simon's efforts are well worth the read. Thus, I gave it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The fact that I detected no errors in this book, in addition to its emphasis on the value of language, led me to believe that it was a masterpiece and had been extraordinarily well edited as well. 
 
As a single proto-language spread across the globe, it could be the genesis of all human languages. If you're curious about what makes us human, this is a book you should check out. In this book, Simon revisits some of the most well-known scientific discoveries that we've come across, and those who enjoy reading about science will find this fascinating.

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Speech! How Language Made Us Human
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[Uwe Neufeld]

This thing about language, I state this: dogs have a langauge too. I hear it at night when they talk in a loud voice to their breed several blocks away.
Anyway, this is an interesting topic and yes, our humans vocabolary is much bigger then the same of a dog.

[Ifesi]

Very intriguing title! Thanks for a wonderful and intriguing review.

[WriteOn]

I enjoyed your enlightening review. I can see how carefully you have studied this book and how much you value the author's insight. Your review reminded me of the challenges faced by people who have communication difficulties and the isolation experienced by so many during the pandemic.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

Did language really make us Human? The title is intriguing and the review leaves us wanting to read the book to know more. I am inclined to disagree that language makes us Human but perhaps I should first read the book to get the author's insight. I think language is rather a manifestation of our humanity.