The Intelligence from The Economist cover image

Yield signs: the global economy

The Intelligence from The Economist

00:00

The Evolution and Simplification of Language

This chapter explores how languages evolve by accumulating rules while also simplifying over time, especially in cases of contact and conquest. It compares Scandinavian languages with Icelandic, highlighting how isolation can preserve grammatical complexity amidst the broader trends of linguistic development.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app