Evolutionary Linguistics

Gossip, Lies & Survival: The Social Brain

We're often told language evolved to help us hunt mammoths, but what if its true purpose was more strategic—and a…

1 week ago

Why Can’t Your Dog Say ‘Pizza’?

Ever wonder why your dog can't just ask for a slice of pizza? The answer lies not in their intelligence,…

2 weeks ago

Why Do We ‘Talk’ With Our Hands?

Ever wonder why you gesture on the phone, even when no one can see you? It turns out that 'talking'…

2 weeks ago

The Body’s Compass: Reading Legs & Feet

While we consciously control our facial expressions, our legs and feet often reveal the truth of our intentions. Rooted in…

2 weeks ago

Why Does ‘Mom’ Sound the Same Everywhere?

From Mandarin's 'māma' to Swahili's 'mama', the word for 'mother' is strikingly similar everywhere, but it's not a linguistic coincidence.…

3 weeks ago

The Brain’s Recycled Parts: Linguistic Exaptation

Ever wonder how humans developed the incredible power of language? The answer may not be a special "language organ", but…

3 weeks ago

When Did We Start Asking Questions?

Questions represent a monumental leap in human evolution, demanding a complex toolkit of intonation, syntax, and abstract words like "why."…

3 weeks ago

The “Language Gene”: Does a Single Gene, FOXP2, Hold the Key to Human Speech?

The discovery of the FOXP2 gene, linked to a severe speech disorder, was hailed as finding the genetic "key" to…

3 weeks ago

The Descent of the Larynx: How a Quirky Evolutionary Shift Gave Humans the Power of Speech

Human speech is a miracle of evolution, but it comes at a steep price. Our ability to form a rich…

3 weeks ago

What If There Were No Languages?

Imagine a world without language - without English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, or even sign language. It’s an intriguing and almost…

2 years ago

This website uses cookies.