This book investigates the evolutionary origins of human syntax by proposing a gradualist, adaptationist framework subject to the principles of natural selection. Ljiljana Progovac, a specialist in theoretical syntax, synthesizes research from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and genetics to argue that syntactic structures emerged through incremental biological and cognitive shifts. By bridging the gap between formal linguistics and evolutionary theory, the author constructs a model that accounts for the complexity of language as a biological trait.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the intersection of biolinguistics and evolutionary theory. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a foundational understanding of both syntactic theory and biological principles.