Language

I speak therefore I am: How language makes us human

Frogs croak, birds sing and monkeys chatter. But no other species has our rich and infinitely adaptable language skills. Without them, trade, tribes, religions and nations couldn’t have existed, to say nothing of the internet or the ink on a page.

To what do we owe our ability to share thoughts and influence others? How does it shape us, and how will it change?

Here’s our guide to the biggest questions