Nepal's Kusunda language has no known origin and a number of quirks, like no words for "yes" or "no". It also has only one fluent speaker left, something linguists are racing to change. Through the ...

Human beings are the only species that have language, something that makes us unique amongst all animals. This ability to converse has been called one of the major transitions in evolution – a game ...

Speaking a second or even a third language can bring obvious advantages, but occasionally the words, grammar and even accents can get mixed up. This can reveal surprising things about how our brains ...

Did you know speaking more than one language can help you age better? A new book released this week explores the research around multilingualism. How does speaking multiple languages affect the mind?

A new sign language created over the last 30 years by deaf children in Nicaragua has given experts a unique insight into how languages evolve. The language follows many basic rules common to all ...

A well-known approach used with children who are acquiring two languages simultaneously is for each parent to use his or her own language with their child. Thus, for example, parent 1 will use Spanish ...

For some 2,500 years, residents of this mountainous village have used an astonishing language that only they understand. But there are only six people left who can ‘speak’ it. Hidden deep in the south ...

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter David J Peterson was ...

Combine the study of sociology with learning a modern language. Spend a year abroad at one of our partner institutions. Taught jointly by the Department of Sociology and the Language Centre, this BSc ...