Why are there so many languages? The science of language change
Earth is home to an enormous diversity of languages - but how did it come to be that way? Language is pushed and pulled by forces of creation, change, and destruction - forces that generate diversity, but can also threaten its existence. I made this video with Maxwell Domanchich and Shannon Bryant for the Cog Sci Society's annual Mind Challenge. We didn't win, but I'm still proud of it! 0:00 - A wealth of languages 0:38 - The universal constant 0:56 - The story of English 1:49 - Highlands and islands 3:00 - The language instinct 3:26 - The creative force 4:20 - An uncertain future
