In medieval English, the "dual" form used to refer to exactly two people. While modern English relies on the broad "we" or the phrase "the two of us," Old English featured specific terms like "wit" (we two) and "git" (you two).
A new analysis of genetic studies suggests the cognitive capacity for language emerged at least 135,000 years ago, with language likely becoming a social tool around 100,000 years ago. Researchers examined genetic data from Y chromosome, mitochondrial DNA, and whole-genome studies to trace the divergence of human populations, reasoning that all languages share a common origin. The study proposes that language initially developed as an internal cognitive system before evolving into a means of social communication. Archaeological evidence of symbolic behavior around 100,000 years ago supports the idea that language played a key role in the development of modern human behavior.
This Upworthy article discusses a TikTok video by linguist who points out how many common English phrases related to thinking are actually walking metaphors. He argues that we often don't recognize these as metaphors, but they reveal a deeper connection between how we conceptualize thought and physical movement – essentially, "thinking is walking."
* “by the way”
* “of course”
* “you’re on track”
* “you’re way off”
* “thinking is walking.”
* “Via”
* “by the way”
* “of course”
* “you’re on track”
* “you’re way off”
* “thinking is walking.”
* “Via”
Information on the Great Andamanese people, their language, history, and culture, based on two decades of research. Highlights the language as a potential sixth language family of India and genetic research supporting its distinctness.
>"Three major points emerge from her research:
> Great Andamanese and Jarawa-Onge languages are class apart. (Abbi 2003)
> “We cannot rule out the possibility of multiple dispersions from Africa at different times, and also from different locations”.
> “We may also consider positing not one but two separate migrations out of Africa into the Andamans.
> The first one by the Great Andamanese 70,000 years ago and the second one by the Ang family, (perhaps around 50,000 years ago)” (Abbi 2008)"
>"Three major points emerge from her research:
> Great Andamanese and Jarawa-Onge languages are class apart. (Abbi 2003)
> “We cannot rule out the possibility of multiple dispersions from Africa at different times, and also from different locations”.
> “We may also consider positing not one but two separate migrations out of Africa into the Andamans.
> The first one by the Great Andamanese 70,000 years ago and the second one by the Ang family, (perhaps around 50,000 years ago)” (Abbi 2008)"
A recent study shows that one large language model (LLM) demonstrates impressive linguistic analysis abilities, rivaling those of human linguistics graduate students. Researchers tested LLMs on complex linguistic tasks, including recursion and phonological rule inference, revealing that OpenAI’s o1 model performed significantly better than others, challenging conventional views on the limits of AI in understanding language.
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.
