Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast PIE: the world's most important language
Jun 4, 2025
Laura Spinney, a Paris-based writer and science journalist, delves into the origins of language, particularly the ancient Proto-Indo-European (PIE). She discusses how diverse languages, from English to Sanskrit, share roots in PIE. The conversation highlights language’s vital role in human survival, its connection to storytelling, and how climate change and migration continue to shape linguistic evolution. Spinney also touches on the impact of modern technology on language and the intertwining of language disputes with identity amid conflict.
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Language: Our Oldest Tool
- Language is a critical tool that enables humans to communicate abstract and hypothetical ideas.
- It is as essential to human adaptation and survival as fire was in early development.
Origin of Proto-Indo-European
- Proto-Indo-European was likely spoken 5,000 years ago by nomadic herders called the Yamnaya on the Eastern European steppes.
- Their mobility helped spread the language across Eurasia, shaping many modern languages.
DNA Unlocks Language History
- Genetics revolutionized the study of ancient languages by tracing prehistoric migrations via DNA.
- Ancient DNA helps map the spread of Proto-Indo-European and the languages derived from it.