The gestural origin of language

the long version

"In The Gestural Origin of Language, Sherman Wilcox and David Armstrong use evidence from and about sign languages to explore the origins of language as we know it today. According to their model, it is sign, not spoken language, that is the original mode of human communication." "As the first comprehensive attempt to trace the origin of grammar to gesture, this volume will be a resource for students and professionals in psychology, linguistics, and philosophy."--Jacket.