

Laura Spinney, "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
8 snips Apr 30, 2025
In this enlightening conversation, Laura Spinney, a British science journalist based in France, unravels the astonishing journey of the Proto-Indo-European language. She reveals how this ancient tongue influenced half of humanity’s languages today. Spinney discusses the Yamnaya culture’s pivotal role in language evolution and highlights the interplay of migration, culture, and identity. Additionally, she explores the intriguing concept of 'ghost' languages and the critical need to document fading tongues, making it clear that language shapes our very existence.
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Triangulating Sciences Reveals History
- Linguistics, archaeology, and genetics each provide distinct but complementary insights into ancient languages.
- Triangulating these sciences allows reconstruction of languages and cultures from prehistory.
Proto-Indo-European's Steppe Origin
- The Proto-Indo-European language likely originated about 5,000 years ago in the Eurasian steppe.
- Ancient DNA evidence supports major migrations by nomadic herders spreading this language east and west.
Research Journey Across Disciplines
- Laura Spinney traveled extensively across Black Sea countries and engaged with experts in linguistics, archaeology, and genetics.
- She observed how different disciplines and politics shape the study of language and identity.