May 10, 2015

It seems that only twenty three words in the major language groups have remained without change for 15,000 years; they have managed to hang on while all the others have slipped away. Where do words come from—and where do they go? Evolution offers an answer, but also a further question: if evolution is random then are words too accidental? Princeton philosopher Daniel Cloud thinks it's a bit like breeding dogs.

Click here to hear the interview with Daniel Cloud, Ph.D. on ABC Australia