A key characteristic of human language efficiency is that more frequently used words tend to be shorter in length-the 'law of brevity'. To date, no test of this relationship between frequency of use and length has been carried out on non-human animal vocal communication. We show here that the vocal repertoire of the Formosan macaque (Macaca cyclopis) conforms to the pattern predicted by the law...

In a brief passage, David Lewis derives from quantum-theory a dilemma regarding the explanation of chance events which he tries to solve by first distinguishing plain from contrastive why-questions, and then arguing that with respect to chance events, only plain why-questions have answers. His brevity warrants elaboration and critique. I endorse his derivation, but I make a structural objection...

are to be found in everyday articles of food so that the reader can find out where they can be obtained naturally and cheaply. Subsequent editions of books that largely depend on their appeal by their simplicity and brevity often l<??f: these characters as the author seems impelled to amph'y his original remarks. The author of the book under review has resisted this tendency for the alterations...