Why do languages have the grammar they do?

For some Australian languages, grammar is shaped by the stuff you’re not supposed to say. Linguist Joe Blythe is finding out about the evolution of language, and challenging one of the biggest ideas in linguistics.

Dr Blythe talks to Daniel Midgley on this episode of Talk the Talk.


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159: Taboo Grammar (featuring James Bednall and Joe Blythe)

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Promo

Promo with James Hall, 2014-04-15: Taboo

Show notes

James Bednall worked on the Badimaya dictionary.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-10/badimaya-dictionary-launched-at-mount-magnet/5380606?section=wa

Joe Blythe explains how grammar is sometimes shaped by restrictions on language use.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-12/lsoa-olt121113.php

This is actually a kind of convergent evolution, as many languages are doing the same thing.
http://preferenceorganization.wordpress.com/convergent-evolution/

Yage: Yet another grand exit.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yage