Asks the right question. Not sure about the answer.
Wolfe starts by nailing the key question. We still do not understand the evolution of language; will we ever? Even a number of the high priests of language are at a loss. (It probably does not help that we still have only the fuzziest, grossest comprehension of how the brain might understand and produce words and language.) In his unique and entertaining fashion, Wolfe then explores the history of academic study into the evolution of language over the last 150 years or so. He brings the reader to the present day with an amusing account of the kerfuffle between two such high priests, Noam Chomsky and Daniel Everett. He concludes of course with his own theory, i.e., that language is a massive system of mnemonics. That seems like a bit of a stretch but you can make your own mind up.
Link to book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kingdom-Speech-Tom-Wolfe/dp/178470489X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1535024423&sr=1-1
You may also like to browse other language posts: https://www.thesentientrobot.com/category/language/
