Self-Organization in the Evolution of Speech

Pierre-Oudeyer is a researcher at Sony Computer Science Laboratory, Paris. He studies the origins and evolution of language, and is a specialist of computer modelling, including robotic systems, artificial intelligence, and developmental systems. His work on the origins of speech was awarded the French Prix Le Monde de la recherche universitaire, 2004 and the Prix ASTI in 2005. James R. Hurford is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh. His books include Semantics (with B. Heasley, 1983), Grammar (1994), and as co-editor Approaches to the Evolution of Language (1998), all published by CUP.

This original and fascinating account will interest all those interested in the evolution of speech.

• 1. The Self-Organization Revolution in Science ; 2. The Human Speech Code ; 3. Self-Organization and Evolution ; 4. Existing Theories ; 5. Artificial Systems as Research Tools for Natural Sciences ; 6. The Artificial System ; 7. Learning Perceptuo-Motor Correspondences ; 8. Strong Combinatoriality and Phonotactics ; 9. New Scenarios ; 10. Constructing for Understanding ; References ; Index