The impossible heap? A review of Reflections on language evolution: From minimalism to pluralism by Cedric Boeckx

Cedric Boeckx’s monograph 'Reflections on language evolution: From minimalism to pluralism' is an entertaining and useful introduction to recent advances in biological approaches to the evolutionary origin of our language ability. It can be read as a reminder of the need for more tolerance and diversity in our approach to linguistic research. However, its central thesis is more ambitious and controversial than this: it seeks to reformulate the field by suggesting that linguistics should be centred on the problem of how our language ability evolved. It also promotes the belief that this language ability is best studied as a collection of individual skills and it suggests that the method best suited to this problem is the use of paleo-genetic evidence. This review highlights this interpretation of the monograph and offers a critique of this perspective by suggesting that the structure and cognitive properties of language should remain our focus. [This is an expanded version of a book review which has appeared in Linguist List].