How sad should we be when a language dies? Consider the case—call it callous or simply tough-minded—for saying, “Not at all.” A language, when it comes down to it, is a means of communication. When ...

Some people find it useful to talk through their problems—but language isn't necessary for logical reasoning, cognitive neuroscientists at MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research say. In research ...

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In 2001 scientists studying human language made a breakthrough: by looking at the DNA of a family with a rare speech disability, they found that a mutation in a single gene called FOXP2 were ...

Learning a language is a great way to expand your horizons and connect with more people around the world. In-person classes and tutoring are still an essential part of picking up the skills you need ...

Human language may seem messy and inefficient compared to the ultra-compact strings of ones and zeros used by computers—but our brains actually prefer it that way. New research reveals that while ...

Body language experts reveal the hidden signals your face, eyes, hands and posture send—and how to decode what others are really feeling I used to take pride in being a good listener. Turns out, I was ...

The brain’s “little brain” may hold big promise for people with language trouble. Tucked into the base of the brain, the fist-sized cerebellum is most known for its role in movement, posture and ...

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine. Among the myriad abilities that humans possess, which ones are uniquely human? Language has been a top candidate at least since ...

A new study suggests that everyday multilingual habits—from chatting with neighbors to revisiting a childhood language—may help preserve memory, attention, and brain flexibility as we age. An ...

Is language core to thought, or a separate process? For 15 years, the neuroscientist Ev Fedorenko has gathered evidence of a language network in the human brain — and has found some similarities to ...

Lots of people say they want to learn a language, but the task itself can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. I remember approaching college eager to learn Italian. Fortunately, Stanford ...