Sideways 74. Inventing a Language
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Aug 13, 2025 Identical twins invented their own language as children, sparking a fascinating exploration of communication. The podcast dives into the unique bond between twins and how crafted languages influence storytelling, like the fire creatures' language in Disney's Elemental. It also highlights the transformative power of Sanskrit on one individual's worldview. Language is shown to shape identity and perception, while discussions about constructed languages in communities like 'Game of Thrones' reveal their cultural significance. This journey redefines how we think about language's role in our lives.
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Twins Invent A Secret Childhood Language
- Matthew Youlden recounts he and his identical twin Michael invented a private language as toddlers and still use it today.
- Their grandfather remembered them speaking a language he could not understand and they named it Ummeri.
Twin Languages Reflect Close Bonds
- Dr Nancy Segal explains many twins create private systems like ideoglossia when they spend lots of time together and interact less with adults.
- Such private languages are often creative and should not be pathologised as developmental problems.
Umayri Evolved With School Languages
- Matthew and Michael adapted words and grammar from languages they learned later, expanding and codifying Umayri through school language lessons.
- They even attempted a unique alphabet but settled on Latin script and wrote a small newspaper in their language.