The Language of Life offers a fascinating and revolutionary new interpretation of the role of communication as the driving force behind evolution. Communication in its most basic form – the sending of signals and exchange of messages within and between organisms – is the heart of evolution. From the earliest life forms to Homo sapiens, the great chain of communication drives the evolutionary process and is the indispensible component of human culture.
The Language of Life is a fascinating volume that presents a unique perspective on both the biological evolution of life and the human development of culture. Introducing a new subdiscipline – evolutionary communication – the authors analyse the core domains of life (survival, sex, culture, morality, religion, and technical change) as communications phenomena. What emerges is a brilliant interpretation of life interconnected through communication from the basic molecular level to the most sophisticated manifestations of culture.
James Lull is an international authority on the impact of mass media, communications technology, and pop culture. Eduardo Neiva is an authority on how visual images influence culture. He is professor of Communication Studies at the University of Alabama.