When cultural preservation comes at the expense of speakers’ decisions, sometimes it's O.K. to let a language die.

A few millennia ago, people worldwide may have spoken or signed up to 10 times as many languages as they do today.

A Taiwan–led study of Mandarin-speaking learners shows that the sounds we hear and produce are deeply shaped by our prior ...

Language is more than just spoken and written words. It’s the lens through which we see the world. Language is a beautifully intricate system that allows us to express our thoughts, emotions and ...

Today, people speak or sign around 7,500 languages. Yet this figure provides only a snapshot of a constantly changing history. How many languages existed before written records? Did agriculture reduce ...

When it comes to communication, words get it done. Words can sell, excite, inflame, prompt sacrifice, mend hearts, and that’s not even the beginning. People remember leaders for their words. The right ...

Researchers at OIST gave a virtual robot curiosity, and it learned language twice as fast, playful detours and toddler ...

Contrary to conventional thinking, it's never too late to learn a new language. Use these tips to get started. For more than two years, Dulcie Shoener of Milwaukee has done daily German lessons on her ...

Humans are the only species known to use fully symbolic language: a system capable of expressing abstract ideas, imaginary worlds and endless combinations of meaning. But how did we get there? The ...

Learning another language may increase your earning potential. Many colleges offer faster credentials in a foreign language through online study. Advances in technology have led to a wider range of ...

Verbal communication is usually straightforward. You open your mouth and say what you want to say. Communication doesn’t only happen verbally. As you speak or listen, you also express feelings and ...