Chapter 11. The origins of language and the advantages of arbitrariness

Chapters in this book

1. Prelim pages i
2. Table of contents v
3. List of figures xi
4. Acknowledgements xiii
5. Preface xv
6. Chapter 1. Systems theory 1
7. Chapter 2. Towards a systems model of communication 25
8. Chapter 3. Needs as motivators of behaviour 71
9. Chapter 4. From emotive vocalizations to bodily adornments 91
10. Chapter 5. Photography, or the magic of iconic indexicality 123
11. Chapter 6. Photography plus movement, or even more magic 145
12. Chapter 7. From mimicry to metaphor 161
13. Chapter 9. The thrills of visual realism 183
14. Chapter 10. Linguistic iconicity and the limits of arbitrariness 207
15. Chapter 11. The origins of language and the advantages of arbitrariness 231
16. Chapter 12. Language and the symbolic compulsion 257
17. References 281
18. Index 297