The History of Language: A Groundbreaking New Book by Archaeology Pioneer Stephen Mithen Tackles Humanity's Greatest Mystery – When, Why, and How Did Language Originate and Evolve?

Kawade Shobo Shinsha (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yu Onodera) is pleased to announce the publication of 'The History of Language: Unraveling the Mystery of Language Evolution' (translated by Akira Iwasaka) by Stephen Mithen, on March 27, 2026.

Why, when, how, and to what extent did language originate and evolve? This book is a monumental work in which Professor Mithen, an archaeologist renowned worldwide for his works such as 'The Prehistory of the Mind' and 'The Singing Neanderthal,' tackles this greatest mystery of humankind on a grand scale. It is a groundbreaking volume, described as an 'astonishing achievement,' that depicts the overall picture by likening the scenario of language origin and evolution to a jigsaw puzzle, collecting each piece, and assembling the parts.

The Genesis and Process of Writing 'The History of Language' Professor Mithen, known for his writings on the evolution of the human 'mind,' has long held an interest in the evolution of 'language.' He describes the impetus for undertaking this book as follows: Around 2020, I began to think that recent research in linguistics, archaeology, computer science, anthropology, philosophy, psychology, and genetics might contain fragments of a comprehensive view of language evolution. A perspective that bridges these fields and can withstand new discoveries and theories that are sure to emerge. Finding such fragments among many academic disciplines was a major undertaking, but I also had to consider how the fragments connected to each other. It was like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. The result is this book. (From 'Introduction')

The original title of 'The History of Language' is 'The Language Puzzle.' Professor Mithen likens the writing process to the literal act of solving a puzzle. This book is an attempt to complete the jigsaw puzzle of language evolution by gathering all the pieces, from the oldest evidence to the newest. To solve a jigsaw puzzle, one must first start by connecting consecutive pieces to form several fragmented parts (which are mini-puzzles in themselves). One begins with the edge pieces to create the overall frame. This frame provides clues as to what goes inside. Once the frame is complete, the individual parts that fit inside are assembled. It is helpful if each part has a clear picture. When all the parts are assembled and placed, the overall picture emerges. A picture of when, why, and how language evolved. (From 'Chapter 1: The Mystery of Language')

The puzzle pieces related to 'language evolution' are diverse, including ape vocalizations, the structure of the vocal tract, stone tool production, child language acquisition, the use of fire, brain evolution, genetics, changes in meaning and pronunciation, abstract thought, and symbolism. This intellectual endeavor shapes a grand scenario by utilizing cutting-edge knowledge from various fields such as linguistics, archaeology, anthropology, genetics, neuroscience, psychology, and ethology.

Leading Experts in Various Academic Fields Praise Professor Mithen's Achievement! By crossing various academic disciplines, the overall picture of language evolution