How language began | Dan Everett | TEDxSanFrancisco

[justinpower]

Underrated talk... hope the YouTube algorithm picks it up soon

[dennisc.]

This is definitely a very interesting and worthwhile talk by an interesting presenter, however, it is important to note that the title is misleading. The speaker does not attempt to explain how language began; instead, he discusses what is necessary for language, and the first humans who used language. In fact, I believe there is a lot of debate about how humans developed language and a lot of disagreement about how it happened and no one really knows how it is that humans began speaking languages.

[bonnieskilton]

Excellent … and let’s not forget body language. Must be the earliest form communication.

[tinabirdshafer]

I love his ability to share such dense information in a way that we can hear it. Bravo! I love his books too!! Just a born teacher and

[carinag]

Archaeology and linguistics also interest me. This is so fascinating to know and think about!!!

[karolinaska]

Thing i love most about languages is being able to read it. So many people have shut down my efforts though bc i keep hearing "find native speakers to talk to". Social anxiety autism = no thank you. Now I'm finally like, no one else is going to set my goals for me anymore. Dziekuje.

[wesmahan]

I used to be an evangelical missionary in Europe, but now am an atheist. After 46 years I was having doubts about my religion. Then I read his book written about his years in the Amazon jungle, as a Wycliffe Bible Translator, who eventually realized his religious worldview was BS. (The book is "Don't Sleep - There Are Snakes"). It gave me permission to leave my lifetime religion, and living my life without guilt. Daniel Everett is amazing.

[wordprocessbrian]

word from thought is more than enough magic for any lifeform.

[lyndonkessler]

The writer of Fight Club said our first language was not language. Pointing and gestures and jumping up and down, emotions can all get the point across without "Language".

[waedjradi]

Almost platonistic to say that linguistics and it's origin is the root of the way everything has emerged. Thanks, Everett.

[kirac.epiphany]

A great talk! Yes, TEDx Talks are a great example of language using and its harness, indeed.

[MultiCappie]

Back in the late 80's I thought I read that one researcher in particular was convinced that mated pairs of ravens had a mutually understood vocabulary of up to 100 utterances. Problem being, of course, that the next mated pair of ravens had no idea what they were talking about.

[davidecarretta]

Watched the video multiple times (been trying to learn Piraha for the last 3 years or something... duh I can’t find any resource and I’d never get the chance to travel to Brazil or the permission to even meet them but they’re like my favorite human people) but just now scrolled through the comments.
Loved to see Mr. Everett answered some people and how he did it😂

[Piddeaux]

Which is why we need a common language that every human can understand. Let's do it!

[andrewpatterson]

At 13:15, he begins to describe his classification of existing grammars as G1, G2 and G3. What would define a G4 grammar were it to be invented?

[statesminds]

So interesting! No matter where people are from they came up with a way to communicate

[JAYFULFILMZ]

Language wasn’t invented, It was discovered!

[sudhakarreddy]

So much behind the evolution of language!! Never knew this

[LoriDeMarco]

I'm not sure that humans ARE the only animals that use grammar. It is possible that animals have grammar that we don't recognize. We have to be open to that possibility because it could very well be out there.

[sobanosilva]

I believe that we used the few sounds to create chants to bring us together as a tribal unit. These sounds were joined to refer to objects in life - ma = mother, ba - father, etc