Thank you!

We have emailed you a PDF version of the article you requested.

Can't find the email?

Please check your spam or junk folder

IFLScience Home
IFLScience logo

Complete the form below to listen to the audio version of this article

You can unsubscribe at any time. View ourprivacy policy and terms below.

IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.

For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out ourPrivacy Policy

Ad

tag

linguistics

latest-icon

Latest

link to article

The Quiet Crisis: We're Speaking 338 Fewer Words In Our Daily Lives Each YearRow of people standing on their smartphone, technology

link to article

The Quiet Crisis: We're Speaking 338 Fewer Words In Our Daily Lives Each YearRow of people standing on their smartphone, technology
technologypsychology

The Quiet Crisis: We're Speaking 338 Fewer Words In Our Daily Lives Each Year

clock-iconApril 16, 2026

link to article

Even 3-Day-Old Chicks Get The Bouba-Kiki EffectTwo chickens with the kiki-bouba effect shapes

link to article

Even 3-Day-Old Chicks Get The Bouba-Kiki EffectTwo chickens with the kiki-bouba effect shapes
nature-iconanimals

Even 3-Day-Old Chicks Get The Bouba-Kiki Effect

clock-iconMarch 10, 2026

link to article

How Multilingual Are You? This New Language Calculator Lets You Find Out In A MinuteSilhouette of people in a group with a blue sky background

link to article

How Multilingual Are You? This New Language Calculator Lets You Find Out In A MinuteSilhouette of people in a group with a blue sky background
technologyculture

How Multilingual Are You? This New Language Calculator Lets You Find Out In A Minute

clock-iconJanuary 7, 2026
share7

link to article

Just 13 Letters: How The Hawaiian Language Works With A Tiny AlphabetHanauma Bay on the coast of the Island of O'ahu, looking especially gorgeous and Hawaiian.

link to article

Just 13 Letters: How The Hawaiian Language Works With A Tiny AlphabetHanauma Bay on the coast of the Island of O'ahu, looking especially gorgeous and Hawaiian.
technologyculture

Just 13 Letters: How The Hawaiian Language Works With A Tiny Alphabet

clock-iconJanuary 5, 2026
share60

link to article

Why Is Christmas Called Xmas?A Christianity cross infront of a christmas tree

link to article

Why Is Christmas Called Xmas?A Christianity cross infront of a christmas tree
humans-iconhistory

Why Is Christmas Called Xmas?

clock-iconDecember 23, 2025
share78

link to article

World's First-Ever Dictionary Of Ancient Celtic Languages Set To Be CreatedInscriptions on stones using the Ogham alphabet

link to article

World's First-Ever Dictionary Of Ancient Celtic Languages Set To Be CreatedInscriptions on stones using the Ogham alphabet
humans-iconhistory

World's First-Ever Dictionary Of Ancient Celtic Languages Set To Be Created

clock-iconDecember 11, 2025
share120

link to article

Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Timemother and baby sperm whale swimming together

link to article

Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Timemother and baby sperm whale swimming together
nature-iconanimals

Vowel Sounds "Thought To Be Unique To Humans" Discovered In Sperm Whales For The First Time

clock-iconNovember 12, 2025
share85

link to article

Speaking Multiple Languages May Be A Secret Weapon Against The Ravages Of Old AgeA group of people standing in a circle, imaged from below.

link to article

Speaking Multiple Languages May Be A Secret Weapon Against The Ravages Of Old AgeA group of people standing in a circle, imaged from below.
health-iconneuroscience

Speaking Multiple Languages May Be A Secret Weapon Against The Ravages Of Old Age

clock-iconNovember 10, 2025
comments icon1
share140

link to article

Some Languages Don't Clearly Express A Sense Of The Future, And It Skews The Way We See RealityA woman's silhouette in front of a text writing, language

link to article

Some Languages Don't Clearly Express A Sense Of The Future, And It Skews The Way We See RealityA woman's silhouette in front of a text writing, language
technologypsychology

Some Languages Don't Clearly Express A Sense Of The Future, And It Skews The Way We See Reality

clock-iconAugust 26, 2025
comments icon5

link to article

"Skibidi", "Delulu", And "Broligarchy" Among More Than 6,000 New Words Added To Dictionaryclose up of a dictionary entry for the word "new"

link to article

"Skibidi", "Delulu", And "Broligarchy" Among More Than 6,000 New Words Added To Dictionaryclose up of a dictionary entry for the word "new"
technologyculture

"Skibidi", "Delulu", And "Broligarchy" Among More Than 6,000 New Words Added To Dictionary

clock-iconAugust 21, 2025

link to article

In Antarctica, Linguists Witnessed A New Accent EmergingA scientists in Antarctica sitting next to a penguin on the ice.

link to article

In Antarctica, Linguists Witnessed A New Accent EmergingA scientists in Antarctica sitting next to a penguin on the ice.
humans-iconHumans

In Antarctica, Linguists Witnessed A New Accent Emerging

clock-iconAugust 14, 2025
comments icon1
share31

link to article

All Human Languages Mysteriously Obey Zipf's Law Of Abbreviation. It Applies To Bird Songs Too.Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)singing on a piece of wood.

link to article

All Human Languages Mysteriously Obey Zipf's Law Of Abbreviation. It Applies To Bird Songs Too.Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)singing on a piece of wood.
nature-iconanimals

All Human Languages Mysteriously Obey Zipf's Law Of Abbreviation. It Applies To Bird Songs Too.

clock-iconAugust 14, 2025
comments icon5
share89

link to article

A Language Without Numbers? Pirahã Challenges Long-Held Theories Of LinguisticsTwo scarlet macaw parrots flying through the Amazon rainforest.

link to article

A Language Without Numbers? Pirahã Challenges Long-Held Theories Of LinguisticsTwo scarlet macaw parrots flying through the Amazon rainforest.
technologyculture

A Language Without Numbers? Pirahã Challenges Long-Held Theories Of Linguistics

clock-iconJune 17, 2025
share64

link to article

Why Do We Say "Eleven" and "Twelve" Instead Of "Oneteen" And "Twoteen"?Girl counting on her fingers.

link to article

Why Do We Say "Eleven" and "Twelve" Instead Of "Oneteen" And "Twoteen"?Girl counting on her fingers.
technologyculture

Why Do We Say "Eleven" and "Twelve" Instead Of "Oneteen" And "Twoteen"?

clock-iconJune 11, 2025
comments icon28
share120

link to article

English Speakers Obey This Quirky Grammar Rule, Even If They Don't Know ItA family talking and having conservation with an alien in a shirt

link to article

English Speakers Obey This Quirky Grammar Rule, Even If They Don't Know ItA family talking and having conservation with an alien in a shirt
technologyculture

English Speakers Obey This Quirky Grammar Rule, Even If They Don't Know It

clock-iconMay 8, 2025
comments icon2
share74