Babies early on learn that language is all about checking terms. What children are learning to do in their learning languages, they're learning this charade like playing skill. That's the thing that really matters, is spending lots of time engaging with children and playing with them. The idea that language is in continual decay has been a very common one,. It's completely going back to the kind of school grammar perspective on language.
Morten Christiansen is Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and Nick Chater is Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. Together, they've written The Language Game, a new book which explores the science and psychology of language and some of its mysteries too. Hosting the discussion is journalist Christine Ro, whose work covers areas ranging from science and culture to international development.
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