How language began | Dan Everett | TEDxSanFrancisco

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Published 2017-11-07
Dan Everett brings us back in time to the Homo Erectus to share how language began and why it is the ultimate evolutionary tool to share knowledge. Dan Everett was born in Southern California. He completed an undergraduate degree in biblical studies from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and his Master’s and ScD in linguistics at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas in Brazil. From 1977, he has regularly conducted research on the Pirahã language of Brazil. He has also conducted research on Tzeltal (Mexico), Selish (USA), Arawan (Brazil), Satere (Brazil), Wari’ (Brazil) among many others. He has published fourteen books and more than 110 articles and has lectured around the world on his research. He converted to Christianity at 17 years of age and was a committed, evangelical Christian until abandoning his faith due to lessons he learned from the Pirahãs (as discussed in Don’t sleep, there are snakes). His most recent books are Dark Matter of the Mind: The Culturally Articulated Unconscious (University of Chicago Press) and How Language Began: The Story of Humanity's Greatest Invention (W.W. Norton/Liveright). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
  • @justinpower4475
    Underrated talk... hope the YouTube algorithm picks it up soon
  • @tinabirdshafer
    I love his ability to share such dense information in a way that we can hear it. Bravo! I love his books too!! Just a born teacher and communicator!!!!!
  • @bonnieskilton3247
    Excellent … and let’s not forget body language. Must be the earliest form communication.
  • @carinag4238
    Archaeology and linguistics also interest me. This is so fascinating to know and think about!!!
  • @kirac.epiphany9766
    A great talk! Yes, TEDx Talks are a great example of language using and its harness, indeed.
  • @dennisc.9981
    This is definitely a very interesting and worthwhile talk by an interesting presenter, however, it is important to note that the title is misleading. The speaker does not attempt to explain how language began; instead, he discusses what is necessary for language, and the first humans who used language. In fact, I believe there is a lot of debate about how humans developed language and a lot of disagreement about how it happened and no one really knows how it is that humans began speaking languages.
  • @jmerlo4119
    Bravo! What a remarkable talk. Loved it. Thanks Dan Everett.
  • @davidecarretta4958
    Watched the video multiple times (been trying to learn Piraha for the last 3 years or something... duh I can’t find any resource and I’d never get the chance to travel to Brazil or the permission to even meet them but they’re like my favorite human people) but just now scrolled through the comments. Loved to see Mr. Everett answered some people and how he did it😂
  • @KcDaugirdas
    Throws shade at Chomsky, and refuses to name him 😆
  • @statesminds
    So interesting! No matter where people are from they came up with a way to communicate
  • @MultiCappie
    Back in the late 80's I thought I read that one researcher in particular was convinced that mated pairs of ravens had a mutually understood vocabulary of up to 100 utterances. Problem being, of course, that the next mated pair of ravens had no idea what they were talking about.
  • @karolinaska6836
    Thing i love most about languages is being able to read it. So many people have shut down my efforts though bc i keep hearing "find native speakers to talk to". Social anxiety autism = no thank you. Now I'm finally like, no one else is going to set my goals for me anymore. Dziekuje.
  • @mzyssgdbd1701
    it's really a good video, I believe that language is the basis for all modern architecture and it's important to have a relatively good knowledge of language learning and developing it.
  • @waedjradi
    Almost platonistic to say that linguistics and it's origin is the root of the way everything has emerged. Thanks, Everett.