Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You see a cat chasing a mouse. You probably don’t realize it, but ...

For all the world’s linguistic diversity, human languages still obey certain universal patterns. These run deeper than grammar and syntax; they’re rooted in statistical laws that predict how ...

Humans' unique language capacity was present at least 135,000 years ago, according to a survey of genomic evidence. As such, language might have entered social use 100,000 years ago. It is a deep ...

Steven Mithen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond ...

The Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) fascinate researchers and the general public alike. They remain central to debates about the nature of the genus Homo (the broad biological classification that ...

Grunts, barks, screams and pants ring through Taï National Park in Cȏte d’Ivoire. Chimpanzees there combine these different calls like linguistic Legos to relay complex meanings when communicating, ...

Young chimpanzees have a vocal ability that is also seen in human babies—one that is considered to be a key building block in language development—a study has revealed. The research, published in the ...

Rebecca Tollan, Ph.D., is an assistant professor with the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science at the University of Delaware. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in linguistics from the ...

In the book “More Than Words,” writer-educator John Warner makes the case for renewing the concept of writing as a fundamentally human activity. Large Language Model bots like ChatGPT offer not ...