How the brain got language : the mirror system hypothesis / Michael A. Arbib.

Oxford : Oxford University Press, [2012], ©2012.

xvii, 413 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 359-386) and indexes.

Pt. 1. Setting the stage. Underneath the lampposts ; Perspectives on human languages ; Vocalization and gesture in monkey and ape ; Human brain, monkey brain and praxis ; Mirror neurons & mirror systems -- pt. 2. Developing the hypothesis. Signposts : the argument of the book revealed ; Simple & complex imitation ; Via pantomime to protosign ; Protosign and protospeech. An expanding spiral ; How languages got started ; How the child acquires language ; How languages emerge ; How languages keep changing.