Why does language have the form it does, and why does it change the way it does?

Is it just… because? Or are there environmental motivators? Linguists are getting interested in just what factors are forming language into what it is.

We are talking to linguistic researcher Dan Dediu on this episode of Talk the Talk.

Listen to this episode

Download this episode

You can listen to all the episodes of Talk the Talk by pasting this URL into your podlistener.

http://danielmidgley.com/talkthetalk/talk_classic.xml

Promo

Promo with Teri Campbell, 2018-11-21: Apostrophes

Full interview

Interview with Dan Dediu (complete)

All human languages resemble each other in some ways, but why do they differ? Is it because languages “drift” (in evolutionary terms), or are there motivators for variation? What could be shaping languages? Researcher Dan Dediu has some interesting answers.

Many thanks to Dan, the Association for Linguistic Typology, and the Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language at ANU.

Also at https://www.patreon.com/posts/22768822

Patreon supporters

Our patrons keep Talk the Talk ad-free and on the air. This episode is brought to you by:

  • Chris
  • Jerry
  • Lyssa
  • Nicki
  • Termy
  • Ann
  • Helen
  • Jack
  • Matt
  • Sabrina

Thanks, all. We couldnt do it without you.

We’re Because Language now, and you can become a Patreon supporter!
Depending on your level, you can get bonus episodes, mailouts, shoutouts, come to live episodes, and of course have membership in our Discord community.

Become a Patron!

Show notes

Differential coding of perception in the world’s languages | PNAS
http://www.pnas.org/content/115/45/11369

Drops: Play with your words. Language learning
https://languagedrops.com/

Presentations — Dan Dediu — Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
https://www.mpi.nl/people/dediu-dan/presentations

The evolution of language families is shaped by the environment beyond neutral drift | Nature Human Behaviour
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-018-0457-6

‘Sportswashing’ is the grim game of our times
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/sportswashing-is-the-grim-game-of-our-times-1.3679671

The troubling evolution of corporate greenwashing | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/aug/20/greenwashing-environmentalism-lies-companies

The rise of pride marketing and the curse of ‘pink washing’
https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-pride-marketing-and-the-curse-of-pink-washing-30925

Pinkwashing – Breast Cancer Consortium – Archives
http://breastcancerconsortium.net/resources/topics/pinkwashing/

The Problem With The ‘Rainbow-Washing’ Of LGBTQ+ Pride
https://www.wired.com/story/lgbtq-pride-consumerism/

Whitewash, pinkwash, cloudwash, and blackwash: the many shades of -wash | OxfordWords blog
https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2017/01/12/whitewash-wash-suffix/

Doctors Revolt After N.R.A. Tells Them to ‘Stay in Their Lane’ on Gun Policy
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/us/nra-stay-in-your-lane-doctors.html

“Stay in your lane”: NRA slams doctors over guns, and doctors fire back – CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stay-in-your-lane-doctors-fire-back-at-the-nra-guns/

Dr. Esther Choo: The NRA denies the reality of gun violence. Doctors like me know it all too well.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/nra-denies-reality-gun-violence-doctors-me-know-it-all-ncna936226

How the NRA Suppressed Gun Violence Research | Union of Concerned Scientists
https://www.ucsusa.org/suppressing-research-effects-gun-violence

ThisIsNotConsent: Protests In Ireland After Thong Underwear Cited In Rape Trial : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2018/11/16/668636051/-thisisnotconsent-protests-in-ireland-after-thong-underwear-cited-in-rape-trial

Outrage after girl’s thong used as evidence of consent in Irish rape trial
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ireland-thong-rape-trial-consent-thisisnotconsent-protests/

Who created the BodyCon Dress? An Interesting History of the Body Conscious Style | Style Whys
https://lifeasaroze.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/who-created-the-bodycon-dress-an-interesting-history-of-the-body-conscious-style/

Transcript

We’re working our way back through the archives. If you think we should prioritise a transcript of this episode, let us know!