Spotlight When was talking 'invented'? A language scientist explains how it may have evolved Richard Futrell, Associate Professor of Language Science, University of California, Irvine Aug 14, 2022 Aug 14, 2022 Updated Aug 19, 2022 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Humans are the only animals that express their thoughts in full sentences. Oliver Rossi/DigitalVision via Getty Images kAmk6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FD^E@A:4D^4FC:@FD\<:5D\FD\fcfhdQmrFC:@FD z:5Dk^2m :D 2 D6C:6D 7@C 49:=5C6? @7 2== 286D] x7 J@F 92G6 2 BF6DE:@? J@F’5 =:<6 2? 6IA6CE E@ 2?DH6C[ D6?5 :E E@ k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i4FC:@FD<:5DFDoE964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>Qm4FC:@FD<:5DFDoE964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am People are also reading… Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase 2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia Budget woes complicate residents' push for new dog park in Franklin County Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Cyanobacteria up in Smith Mountain Lake, but no harmful algal blooms last year This Rocky Mount police dog focuses on head pats instead of patrols Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Lake Days gets students up close to nature at Smith Mountain Lake Martinsville council moves toward releasing forensic audit after months of secrecy Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Martinsville to scrap purchasing cards after scrutiny of $1.4M in spending Spanberger signs 22 bills, including one concerning pharmacy benefit managers k9C ^mk3=@4<BF@E6mkAmkDEC@?8m(96? H2D E2=<:?8 :?G6?E65n – p=36CE #][ 286 `a[ u=@C:52k^DEC@?8mk^Amk^3=@4<BF@E6mk9C ^mkAm%96 ECFE9 :D[ ?@ @?6 <?@HD 7@C DFC6 H96? E2=<:?8 H2D “:?G6?E65]” xE’D 2 3:8 >JDE6CJ] qFE 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D@4D4:]F4:]65F^TftC7FEC6==^Qm2 =2?8F286 D4:6?E:DEk^2m 7@C `d J62CD[ x 42? E6== J@F @FC 36DE 8F6DD 23@FE H96? A6@A=6 DE2CE65 E2=<:?8 E@ 6249 @E96C FD:?8 =2?8F286[ 2?5 9@H H6 E9:?< :E 8@E DE2CE65]k^Am k9amwF>2? =2?8F286 2?5 9@H =@?8 :E’D 366? 2C@F?5k^9am kAm%2=<:?8 :D 2? 24E:G:EJ F?:BF6 E@ k6>mw@>@ D2A:6?Dk^6>m[ @FC DA64:6D] x? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^achc_e`fQm6G6CJ 4F=EFC6 H96C6 >@DE A6@A=6 42? 962Ck^2m[ A6@A=6 E2=< H:E9 DA@<6? =2?8F286] p?5 :? 8C@FAD H96C6 =@ED @7 A6@A=6 2C6 5627 — 2D :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6?]H:<:A65:2]@C8^H:<:^':==2860D:8?0=2?8F286Qm46CE2:?k^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^D2?5=6CD:8?=23]92:72]24]:=^9E>=^9E>=06?8^A57^t|t#vx}v0$xv}0{p}v&pvt$]A57QmG:==286Dk^2m H96C6 2 =@E @7 A6@A=6 2C6 3@C? 5627 7@C 86?6E:4 C62D@?D — @C :? s627 4@>>F?:E:6D E9C@F89@FE E96 H@C=5[ A6@A=6 E2=< H:E9 E96:C 92?5D[ FD:?8 D:8? =2?8F286D] %96C6 2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=:EE=6A2DDA@CED]4@>^3=@8^H@C=5\4@>>F?:EJ^E96\>2?J\=2?8F286D\@7\D:8?\=2?8F286^Qm=@ED @7 5:776C6?E D:8? =2?8F286Dk^2m[ ;FDE 2D E96C6 2C6 =@ED @7 5:776C6?E DA@<6? =2?8F286D]k^Am kAmq:C5D D:?8 D@?8D] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H96?\5@8D\32C<\2C6\E96J\FD:?8\H@C5D\E@\4@>>F?:42E6\`dbbcdQms@8D 32C<k^2m[ 2?5 42ED >6@H] qFE E96D6 7@C>D @7 4@>>F?:42E:@? 2C6 D:>A=6 4@>A2C65 H:E9 9F>2? =2?8F286] p? 2?:>2= >:89E >2<6 `_ 5:776C6?E D@F?5D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 3FE 2? 25F=E 9F>2? <?@HD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_hg^CDE3]a__h]_a`bQm>@C6 E92? a_[___ H@C5Dk^2m] p55:E:@?2==J[ H6’C6 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63]DE2?7@C5]65F^4=2DD^=:?8F:DE`hf2^9@4<6EEe_D4:2>]A57Qm@?=J 2?:>2=k^2m E92E 6IAC6DD6D E9@F89ED :? 7F== D6?E6?46D] q642FD6 =2?8F286 :D F?:BF6 E@ 9F>2?D 2?5 D@ 5:776C6?E 7C@> 2?JE9:?8 6=D6 :? E96 2?:>2= <:?85@>[ C6D62C496CD 5@?’E C62==J E9:?< =2?8F286 H2D :?G6?E65j :?DE625 H6 E9:?< :E 6G@=G65 5FC:?8 9F>2? 36:?8D’ 6G@=FE:@? 7C@> @E96C 2A6D]k^Am kAm$@ E@ 7:?5 @FE H96? E2=<:?8 DE2CE65[ J@F 92G6 E@ =@@< 324< E@ H96? 9F>2?D 7:CDE 6G@=G65] $4:6?E:DED 36=:6G6 9F>2?D 2D H6 <?@H E96> E@52J =:<6=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:25G]22@dhe`Qm6G@=G65 2C@F?5 b__[___ J62CD 28@k^2m] $@>6 @7 @FC 6G@=FE:@?2CJ 2?46DE@CD =:<6 k6>mw@>@ 6C64EFDk^6>m 2?5 4@FD:?D =:<6 E96 }62?56CE92=D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^;]4@3692]a_`g]_`]__`Qm>2J 92G6 925 =2?8F286 E@@k^2m[ 3FE C6D62C496CD 5@?’E <?@H 7@C DFC6]k^AmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^cfebeh^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa_faf\``fbd\6;J:K5];A68n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfdcU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ 2=ElQp 492=< 5C2H:?8 @7 >@?<6J E@ 9F>2? 6G@=FE:@?Q ^m$4:6?E:DED 36=:6G6 E92E 2?46DE@CD E@ >@56C? 9F>2?D >2J 92G6 FD65 DA6649 E@@] k2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^6G@=FE:@?\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^`ebfcebcdn25AA@AFAlECF6Qm2=E>@56C?^tZ G:2 v6EEJ x>286Dk^2mk^Am kAm(92E’D 2>2K:?8 :D E92E 7@C 2=>@DE 2== @7 E92E E:>6[ 2== A6@A=6 5:5 H:E9 =2?8F286 H2D E2=<j E96C6 H2D?’E 2?J C625:?8 @C HC:E:?8 F?E:= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D:E6D]FE6I2D]65F^5D3^E@<6?D^E96\6G@=FE:@?\@7\HC:E:?8^QmC@F89=J d[___ J62CD 28@k^2m[ H9:49 :D C646?E 4@>A2C65 H:E9 9@H =@?8 >@56C? 9F>2?D 92G6 366? 2C@F?5] u@C 2=>@DE 2== @7 E96 E:>6 E92E 9F>2?D 6I:DE65 @? A=2?6E t2CE9[ ?@ @?6 C625 2 3@@< @C 2 D:8?[ @C HC@E6 5@H? E96:C ?2>6]k^AmkAm!6@A=6 DE2CE65 HC:E:?8 E9:?8D 5@H? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D:E6D]FE6I2D]65F^5D3^E@<6?D^7C@>\244@F?E:?8\E@\HC:E:?8^QmD@ E96J 4@F=5 <66A EC24< @7 244@F?EDk^2m] u@C 6I2>A=6[ :7 u2C>6C y@6 @H65 u2C>6C y:== E9C66 D966A[ E96? E96J H@F=5 5C2H 2 A:4EFC6 @7 2 D966A 2?5 HC:E6 5@H? E9C66 >2C<D] tG6?EF2==J E96D6 =:EE=6 A:4EFC6D EFC?65 :?E@ 9:6C@8=JA9:4D 2?5 E96? :?E@ E96 =6EE6CD E92E H6 FD6 E@52J E@ HC:E6 5@H? 2== <:?5D @7 E9:?8D =:<6 8C@46CJ =:DED 2?5 A@6>D 2?5 DE@C:6D]k^Am k9am(96C6 E2=<:?8 4@>6D 7C@>k^9amkAmp?@E96C BF6DE:@? J@F >:89E H@?56C 23@FE :D H96C6 E2=<:?8 4@>6D 7C@>] q67@C6 A6@A=6 FD65 =2?8F286[ 9@H 5:5 E96J 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 6249 @E96Cn s:5 E96J ;FDE >2<6 D@F?5D 2E 6249 @E96C 2D 2?:>2=D 5@n %96 ECFE9 :D[ H6 5@?’E <?@H E96 2?DH6C 96C6 6:E96C] qFE E96C6 2C6 EH@ >2:? E96@C:6D]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H63DA246]D9:A]65F^483@6C^=2?8@C:8:?D]9E>=Qm%96 7:CDE E96@CJk^2m :D E92E =2?8F286 DE2CE65 H:E9 A6@A=6 >2<:?8 5:776C6?E D@F?5D[ >@DE=J :>:E2E:?8 E96 E9:?8D 2C@F?5 E96>[ =:<6 2?:>2= 42==D[ ?2EFC6 D@F?5D 2?5 E96 D@F?5D @7 E@@=D] tG6?EF2==J E96J DE2CE65 FD:?8 E96D6 D@F?5D E@ E2=< E@ 6249 @E96C] %96J >:89E >2<6 E96 D@F?5 @7 H9@@D9:?8 H:?5 E@ E2=< 23@FE E96 H62E96C @C :>:E2E6 E96 D@F?5 @7 2 3:C5 E@ E6== 2 7C:6?5 E92E E96C6 H2D 2 3:C5 ?62C3J] %96? @G6C 9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 J62CD[ E9@D6 D@F?5D EFC?65 :?E@ H@C5D E92E A6@A=6 3682? E@ =62C? 2D A2CE @7 E96:C =2?8F286] pE D@>6 A@:?E[ A6@A=6 DE2CE65 DEC:?8:?8 E96 H@C5D E@86E96C E@ 7@C> D6?E6?46D]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:EAC6DD]>:E]65F^3@@<D^@C:8:?D\9F>2?\4@>>F?:42E:@?Qm%96 @E96C >2:? E96@CJk^2m[ H9:49 :D 2 >@C6 C646?E :562[ :D E92E A6@A=6 DE2CE65 @77 3J 86DEFC:?8 — A@:?E:?8 2E E9:?8D H:E9 E96:C 92?5D[ :>:E2E:?8 24E:@?D FD:?8 E96:C 3@5:6D 2?5 >2<:?8 7246D] tG6?EF2==J E96D6 86DEFC6D EFC?65 :?E@ 2 7F== D:8? =2?8F286] %9:D AC@46DD 4@?E:?F6D E@52J :? G:==286D H96C6 =@ED @7 A6@A=6 2C6 5627] x7 2 =@E @7 5627 A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E <?@H 2 D:8? =2?8F286 4@>6 E@86E96C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A3D]@C8^H839^6G@=FE:@?^=:3C2CJ^_f^a^=0_fa0_c]9E>=QmE96J H:== DA@?E2?6@FD=J :?G6?E @?6k^2m H:E9:? 2 76H J62CD]k^Am kAm%9:D E96@CJ 8F6DD6D E92E 27E6C 56G6=@A:?8 D:8? =2?8F286D[ A6@A=6 6G6?EF2==J DE2CE65 >2<:?8 D@F?5D 2=@?8 H:E9 E96:C 86DEFC6D] pE D@>6 A@:?E[ E96J DH:E4965 E@ >@DE=J >2<:?8 D@F?5D E92E 3642>6 H@C5D :?DE625 @7 ;FDE FD:?8 E96:C 3@5:6D] %96 C62D@? E96J DH:E4965 E@ >2<:?8 D@F?5D[ E96 E96@CJ 8@6D[ :D E92E E2=<:?8 @FE =@F5 =6ED J@F 4@>>F?:42E6 H:E9 D@>6@?6 6G6? H96? J@F 42?’E D66 E96>]k^Am kAmq:8 BF6DE:@?D =:<6 E9:D =6E 2== @7 FD 6IA=@C6 H92E :E >62?D E@ 36 9F>2? 36:?8D] ~?=J 9F>2?D 92G6 =2?8F286[ 2?5 D@ 7:8FC:?8 @FE H96C6 =2?8F286 4@>6D 7C@> :D 2 H2J E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H96C6 H6 4@>6 7C@> E@@]k^AmkAmk6>m#:492C5 uFEC6== 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^6>mk^AmkAmk6>mk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>Qm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m F?56C 2 rC62E:G6 r@>>@?D =:46?D6]k^6>mk^6>mk^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | Omny Studio 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story