The Strange Tools of Human Communication: The Voice, the Pen, and the Lyre

The Strange Tools of Human Communication: The Voice, the Pen, and the Lyre explores the tools that humans use to communicate, express themselves, and engage with and build on the riches of the earth.

Humans, as social animals, can share knowledge and discoveries, and learn from others - the development of specific tools for example. A group is more able to defend itself than an individual and to care for younger and weaker members; and, an important point, division of labour is possible with all the social cultural, economic, and aesthetic aspects to which this can lead. This book proposes four essential modes of human communication: gesture, voice, art, and music - an often intersecting set of arts that, arguably, most deeply makes us human. It demonstrates the connection between these modes by situating original research within a rich tradition of study in these four areas, shows how deeply humanity is rooted in the relationship between these modes of communication.

The Strange Tools of Human Communication is an ideal supplement to upper level undergraduate and graduate courses in cultural anthropology, sociocultural linguistics, and cultural studies.

Ruth Finnegan OBE is EmerItus Professor of the Open University, UK