In this episode of Blazing the Trail, join host Dr. Amy Mosig-Way and special guests Assoc. Prof. Mark Harvey, Prof. Maggie Tallerman, and Prof. Rob Mailhammer as they deliberate the origins and evolution of human language, a defining feature that separates us from other animals. Together, they discuss how language likely evolved gradually, progressing from simple proto-words to complex sentences, with each stage marking an increase in communication complexity. Tune into this conversation and explore how and why language was driven by social and cognitive forces, from cooperation and tool use to the need for abstract expression.
Blazing the Trail is a five-episode podcast that takes you on an epic journey investigating our shared story of human evolution. From our earliest ancestors in Africa to the global spread of Homo sapiens, each episode dives into the complex interplay of biological, environmental, and social factors that have shaped our species. In conversation with a range of internationally renowned archaeologists, paleoanthropologists, linguists, and specialists this podcast series hosted by Dr. Amy Mosig Way, from the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum, highlights key milestones in our human journey such as the development of tools, mastering fire, the creation of language, and our capacity for migration and adaptation.
Blazing the Trail is a joint production between the University of Sydney, Australian Museum, University of Liverpool, UK, and the University of Wroclaw and BreakThru Productions in Poland.
With special thanks to Professor Keith Dobney for conceptualisation and Dr Lucy Timbrell for input in design and content.
The podcast was made possible by a grant from the Tom Austen Brown bequest, Archaeology, University of Sydney, and supplemented by a AHRC targeted funding grant awarded to Dr Lucy Trimbell, and a discretionary grant by Professor Przemysław Wiszewski, University of Wrocław.
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