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#426 – Edward Gibson: Human Language, Psycholinguistics, Syntax, Grammar & LLMs

Lex Fridman Podcast

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Language Death and Pragmatic Conception of Why We Learn Languages (For Economic Value)

Language death is common worldwide as languages lacking economic value die out. For instance, the Mostitan language is endangered due to the lack of economic benefits compared to Spanish. The main reason people learn languages is for economic opportunities, like finding a job and feeding their families. Popular languages like English thrive not because they are easy to learn, but because they are linked to powerful economies like the United States. Economic value is a significant driving force for language learning, making languages like Mandarin, Spanish, and English more sought after. While some people learn languages for the sake of learning, the majority are driven by economic incentives.

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