Is There a Space Between the Words?

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When you analyze speech, there are no spaces that the words run together in an broken ribbon of sound. We're releasing a river of ound out of our mouths. But it's a real challenge for babies who are trying to figure out where words begin and end. How do they figure that out? Well, it's one of the extraordinary things, and they are listening extremely closely as its happening.

Today, we are revisiting one of our favorite episodes: an interview with New Yorker staff writer John Colapinto. In his brilliant book, "This Is the Voice," John says that while opposable thumbs are handy, the voice is our species' greatest attribute. We rely on it to communicate and collaborate, woo our mates and protect our children, win wars and make podcasts. John would know. A vocal injury changed his relationship with his instrument and set him on a path to better understand what his voice means to him — and what the voice means to humanity.