“How did language begin?”
The origins of language are difficult to trace and are still the subject of debate among linguists and researchers.
There are several theories about the evolution of language, but the most widely accepted theory is that language evolved gradually, over many thousands of years, as a result of the natural process of evolution. According to this theory, early humans developed the ability to communicate through sounds and gestures as a way to improve their chances of survival. Over time, these early forms of communication became more complex and sophisticated, eventually leading to the development of language as we know it today.
Other theories about the evolution of language include the idea that language was invented by a single individual or group of individuals. However, this is an area that is still being researched today.
Learn more about this with our series “Evolution of Language”
How do languages evolve? From the origins of language to bilingualism, this series journeys into the mysteries of this uniquely human trait and the power it has to change our world.
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Dr John Gallagher
Travel, mobility, and migration were instrumental in making Early modern England a multilingual landscape. But when did the English start speaking English and, how confident were early speakers in the scope of this fast-evolving language?
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Professor Simon Kirby
Language sets humankind apart from other species. Even our closest primate relatives haven't developed the same ability to acquire & use language. Why are humans the only species with language and how did language evolve?
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Prof. Shannon Murray
The modern world is increasingly polarised; we see things in black and white. How can Shakespeare teach us to hold two conflicting ideas in our heads simultaneously?
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Antonella Sorace
More than half the world speaks two or more languages fluently. And yet being bilingual is a label often reserved for native speakers who learn multiple languages as children. Can you both 'be' and 'become' bilingual?
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Professor Simon Kirby
What makes human speech miraculous is the fact that no other creature in history that we know of has evolved the skill. The origin of language is evolution’s greatest mystery, but how did language begin?
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Dr Diane Nelson
It's thought there are more than 7,000 languages spoken across the world. Although this number seems vast, every month one of the world's languages disappears forever. How and why so many languages are dying?
Professor Simon Kirby
If a Martian linguist were to study the languages of the world, what would they conclude about how many we had? What forces shape our language?
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