Ways of Communicating is a stimulating exploration of the single most powerful force that gives humankind its control over the natural world - the communication between us. So integral a part of everyday life as to be taken for granted, yet so multi-faceted as to be notoriously slippery to describe and analyse, the world of communication is treated here for once from the standpoint of the arts quite as much as the sciences. Speech and body-language, fiction and music, communication by neutral networks within the brain and by satellite around the globe, all are considered together to give a fascinating view of this elusive aspect of our common humanity. The volume originates in the highly successful fourth series of Darwin College Lectures, given in 1989 under the title 'Communication'.
Contents
Introduction: what is communication?; 1. Communication and representation within the brain; 2. Animal communication; 3. Language and mind; 4. Telling the truth; 5. The novel as communication; 6. Communication without words; 7. Music as communication; 8. Communication and technology; Acknowledgements; Index.
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