This article discusses the reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European, the common ancestor of many languages, and features audio examples of what it might have sounded like, based on the work of linguists like Schleicher, Melchert, and Byrd.
Large language models (LLMs) are rapidly being implemented in a wide range of disciplines, with the promise of unlocking new possibilities for scientific exploration. However, while the development of LLMs brings opportunities to science, it also comes with pressing challenges. This Focus discusses the current state of the art, highlights key obstacles, and examines some of the potential pitfalls and biases of implementing and using LLMs across different domains, including healthcare, urban planning, chemistry, linguistics, humanities, and computer science. In addition, the Focus explores emerging technologies – such as neuromorphic engineering – that show promise in enhancing the energy efficiency of LLM deployment on hardware platforms.
Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered a previously unknown ancient language on clay tablets unearthed from the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, Hattusa. The tablets reveal a focus on multiculturalism and preserving the traditions of subject peoples within the empire. The language, called Kalasmaic, was spoken in the Kalasma region and was lost for approximately 3,000 years.
The article discusses Surzhyk, a hybrid Ukrainian-Russian language, its historical stigma as a marker of rural backwardness, and its increasing acceptance and use in Ukraine, particularly since the 2022 invasion. It explores the language's evolution, its role as a bridge for Russian speakers transitioning to Ukrainian, and its potential as a tool for linguistic decolonization.
The Indo-European Cognate Relationships (IE-CoR) dataset is a comprehensive, open-access relational database detailing cognates—inherited related words—across 160 Indo-European languages. Developed by a consortium of 89 linguists, it aims to serve as a benchmark for computational research into the evolution of this vast language family, encompassing 25,731 lexeme entries grouped into 4,981 cognate sets based on 170 core meanings. The dataset incorporates time calibration data, geographical/social metadata, and a novel structure for coding horizontal transfer, adhering to the Cross-Linguistic Data Format (CLDF) for interoperability and long-term accessibility. IE-CoR addresses limitations of previous datasets through improved coverage, rigorous coding protocols, and a focus on the primary cognate state of root morphemes, offering a valuable resource for phylogenetic and quantitative linguistic research.
Ancient DNA points to the roots of Uralic languages in Yakutia, far east of the Ural Mountains. The genetic trail traces a remarkable prehistoric migration that reshaped Eurasia’s linguistic landscape.
A new study using ancient DNA has revealed that the origins of the Uralic language family (including Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian) lie further east than previously thought – specifically in Yakutia, northeastern Siberia, around 4,500 years ago. Researchers, led by Harvard scientists, analyzed genomes from Siberia and across Eurasia, tracing a genetic signal westward. This challenges the long-held belief that the Uralic homeland was near the Ural Mountains.
The study links the spread of Uralic languages to the Seima-Turbino phenomenon – a period of advanced bronze-casting and cultural exchange – and shows interaction with the Yamnaya culture (associated with the spread of Indo-European languages). While modern Uralic-speaking populations show varying degrees of Yakutia ancestry (with Hungarians having the least), the ancient DNA confirms a Siberian origin for the language family. The research also sheds light on the origins of the Yeniseian language family and potentially supports a connection between Yeniseian and North American Na-Dene languages.
A new study using ancient DNA has revealed that the origins of the Uralic language family (including Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian) lie further east than previously thought – specifically in Yakutia, northeastern Siberia, around 4,500 years ago. Researchers, led by Harvard scientists, analyzed genomes from Siberia and across Eurasia, tracing a genetic signal westward. This challenges the long-held belief that the Uralic homeland was near the Ural Mountains.
The study links the spread of Uralic languages to the Seima-Turbino phenomenon – a period of advanced bronze-casting and cultural exchange – and shows interaction with the Yamnaya culture (associated with the spread of Indo-European languages). While modern Uralic-speaking populations show varying degrees of Yakutia ancestry (with Hungarians having the least), the ancient DNA confirms a Siberian origin for the language family. The research also sheds light on the origins of the Yeniseian language family and potentially supports a connection between Yeniseian and North American Na-Dene languages.
A pair of landmark studies has identified the originators of the Indo-European family of languages in current-day Russia about 6,500 years ago, the Caucasus Lower Volga people.
>“We can see there was a small group of villages 5,700 to 5,300 years ago with just a couple thousand breeding individuals,” Reich said. “And then there was a demographic explosion, with these people going everywhere.”
>“We can see there was a small group of villages 5,700 to 5,300 years ago with just a couple thousand breeding individuals,” Reich said. “And then there was a demographic explosion, with these people going everywhere.”
A new study suggests the European Huns shared a common language with the Xiongnu, indicating Siberian roots rather than Turkic origins. The research, based on linguistic evidence, archaeology, and genetics, points to a shared Yeniseian language family.
This article discusses efforts to reconstruct Shakespeare's original pronunciation, focusing on experiments at the Globe Theatre and the linguistic evidence used to inform these reconstructions. It details three key types of evidence: contemporary observations, spellings, and rhymes/puns that only work in the original pronunciation.
A collection of 23 maps and charts illustrating various aspects of language, including origins, distribution, diversity, and evolution, with a focus on English and global patterns.
