Animal alarm calls and human language uniqueness

Kelly talks to Maryellen MacDonald, a cognitive scientist with a focus on psycholinguistics, the study of how we comprehend, produce, and learn languages. Her new book is called, “More Than Words: How Talking Sharpens the Mind and Shapes Our World.”

“Both researchers and the popular media don’t talk much about talking.” 

“Talking doesn’t just let us communicate. It tunes our brains.” 

“New knowledge fades away unless we do something with it.”