Product Description
Now You're Talking
Author: Trevor Cox
Format: Paperback
Human Conversation from the Neanderthals to Artificial Intelligence
'A lively, intelligent and persuasive history of speech...Expertly and patiently explained' — The Times
Why are human beings the only animals that can speak? And why does it matter?
If you've ever felt the shock of listening to a recording of your own voice, you realise how important your voice is to your personal identity. We judge others - and whether we trust them - not just by their words but by the way they talk: their intonation, their pitch, their accent.
Now You're Talking explores the full range of our voice - how we speak and how we sing; how our vocal anatomy works; what happens when things go wrong; and how technology enables us to imitate and manipulate the human voice.
Trevor Cox talks to vocal coaches who help people to develop their new voice after a gender transition; to record producers whose use of technology has transformed the singing voice; and to computer scientists who replicate the human voice in their development of artificial intelligence.
Beginning with the Neanderthals, Now You're Talking takes us all the way to the digital age - with the frightening prospect that we may soon hear 'Unexpected item in the bagging area' more frequently than a friendly 'Hello, how are you?' in the street.
About the Author
Trevor Cox is Professor of Acoustic Engineering at the University of Salford and president of the Institute of Acoustics. He has presented numerous science radio documentaries and has written for the New Scientist. He is an associate editor for an international journal of acoustics, and the author of Sonic Wonderland. Twitter: @trevor_cox
For custom orders and quotes: shop@schoolspace.co.za
© 2026 Schoolspace. This product description is the exclusive intellectual property of the publisher, protected under copyright law. Unauthorized use, adaption, or copying is strictly prohibited.
