Sure animals talk in their own way, with chirps and grunts and the like, but only humans can form words. It is this, some evolutionary psychologists contend, that is what truly separates us from the rest of the species on the planet. But why us?
Tagged with “language”
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How did Language Evolve?
Tagged with language evolutionary psychology
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Dialects Changing, But Not Disappearing In Philadelphia : NPR
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are tracking changes in the Philadelphia accent. Reporter Zack Seward dips into archives that include more than a century’s worth of Philly natives. The researchers say most regional accents are alive and well, even in the digital age, but they’re always changing.
http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176368267/dialects-changing-but-not-disappearing-in-philadelphia
Tagged with npr language linguistics philadelphia dialect english
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Translating the Untranslatable : NPR
Linguist Christopher J. Moore has made a career of searching out some of the world’s most "untranslatable" expressions â words from around the globe that defy an easy translation into English. Moore shares a few of his linguistic favorites from his new book In Other Words: A Language Lover’s Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4457805
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Steven Pinker on Life Scientific
Jim al-Khalili talks to Steven Pinker, a scientist who’s not afraid of controversy. From verbs to violence, many say his popular science books are mind-changing. He explains why toddlers say “holded” not held and “digged” rather than dug; how children’s personalities are shaped largely by their genes and why, he believes the recent rioters had plenty of self-esteem. Huffduffed from http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/tls