BYE BYE I LOVE YOU The Story of Our First and Last Words

This expansive audiobook by a thoughtful journalist with a longstanding interest in linguistics looks at the biological, cultural, and historical evolution of language. Narrator Stephen Caffrey projects a consistent connection with the author's views and dedication to his subject. It takes several chapters for the philosophical musings to coalesce around a focus, but once they do, Erard's field studies on communication around the globe and fascinating research and insights on how relationships shape language structure become quite absorbing. His broad sensibilities create perspectives that transcend academic approaches to the study of language. Increasing playback speed will help listeners who are frustrated by Caffrey's slow pace and excessive use of pauses. T.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]