The Origin of Language

“An entertaining and enlightening examination of the roots of speech.” –Kirkus Reviews“Beautiful, playful, and all-encompassing. Beekman elegantly delves into that most elusive and tantalizing aspect of our evolution: language. On every page there’s something that makes you smile and think, ‘I didn’t know that!’” –Menno Schilthuizen, author of Darwin Comes to Town“Beekman uncovers the evolutionary mysteries behind human speech in this riveting exploration of our linguistic past. As artificial intelligence reshapes communication, understanding the deep roots of human language has never been more crucial. A must-read for anyone seeking essential insights to navigate our rapidly evolving technological future.” –Dana Suskind, author of 30 Million Words“With a knack for making complex topics accessible and interesting, Beekman guides us through human evolution, with stops along the way to explain why we walk upright and why babies are cute but koalas are boring. She persuasively argues for childcare as the linchpin in the evolution of our ability to speak, and shows how language, that extraordinary human accomplishment, engages in an exquisite to-and-fro with the brain.” –Marlene Zuk, author of PaleofantasyA tour de force. At its core it seeks to explain the origin of language. But, by linking our patterns of sociality, behavior, development, and communication it is a celebration of humanity’s origins. Reading Madeleine Beekman’s book, you will never look at babies–and their utterances–the same way ever again. –Neil Shubin, evolutionary biologist and author of Your Inner Fish“A rigorous examination of the evolution of human communication. Compelling, thought provoking, and hugely entertaining. I learned even as I laughed.” –Ashley Ward, biologist and author of The Social Lives of Animals and Sensational

Madeleine Beekman is professor emerita of evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology at the University of Sydney, Australia. In the academic year of 2020-21, Beekman was a resident fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin (Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin), which is where the idea for The Origin of Language was born. She currently lives with her husband in Australia’s northern tropical rainforest, where she can observe the endangered cassowary from her office. She has two adult daughters and a tiny granddaughter.