When language was innovated, what happened next? How did it change our abilities — and our responsibilities — to each other? Dr Nick Enfield shares ideas from his new book, Consequences of Language. Plus: Have large language models (like GPT) disproven a key tenet of the innateness of language? Dr Morten Christiansen takes us through the implications for nativism and language learning.

Morten Christiansen, a Professor of Psychology at Cornell, and Nick Chater, a Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick, dive into the fascinating world of language in their enlightening discussion. They explore how language functions as both a playful medium and a critical tool for social interaction. The pair challenges traditional views by emphasizing the evolving nature of communication, especially in the age of the internet. They also investigate the psychological implications of language on thought and even touch on the complexities of multilingualism and machine translation.

Morten Christiansen is Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and Nick Chater is Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. Together, they've written The Language Game, a new book which explores the science and psychology of language and some of its mysteries too. Hosting the discussion is journalist Christine Ro, whose work covers areas ranging from science and culture to international development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices