Language feels simple when we use it. We talk, we text, we listen, and words seem to appear naturally from thought. But the study of linguistics tells a more complicated story, one where language ...

Do you sense something problematic about the word “problematic”? The way it’s used has changed a great deal in recent years, so much that it can now seem a little shifty. The journey that brought us ...

A new Science paper challenges the idea that language stems from a single evolutionary root. Instead, it proposes that our ability to communicate evolved through the interaction of biology and culture ...

To the editor: Language, by its very nature, is dynamic, reflecting changes in society. English is a perfect example. (“English words have invaded Korea. The government is fighting back,” Feb. 3) Old ...

Language is one of the few faculties that still seems to be uniquely human. Other animals, like chimpanzees and songbirds, have developed elaborate communication systems, but none appears to convey ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Language evolves. When we learn new information that changes our understanding of a subject, the words we use will change as well.

Language is a living, breathing entity, constantly shifting, acquiring new words, and shedding old ones. This dynamic nature means that with every passing decade, a unique linguistic fingerprint ...