Origin Of A Language

Who created the alphabet? A historian describes the millennia-long story of the ABCs

The first alphabet was invented in ancient Egypt, more than 5,000 years ago, and was developed to record religious texts.

Jane Sancinito, The Conversation
· Feb 17, 2024 · 05:30 pm
‘On the Origins of Human Speech and Language’ shows how it all began on the African continent

The transformation of modern humans from a ‘non-speaking’ to a ‘speaking’ species took place as our hunter-gatherer ancestors migrated out of Africa.

George Poulos, The Conversation
· Dec 30, 2022 · 05:30 pm
Swearing like sailors: What the profanities of lascars can teach today’s divided world

The creole language they created shows how finding a way to share experiences can help transcend seemingly insurmountable chasms.

Karunya C Banerjee
· Feb 07, 2021 · 11:30 am

How I invented a new language for the TV version of China Miéville’s novel ‘The City and The City’

Linguist Alison Long helped translate a best-selling novel into the latest BBC television drama.

Alison Long, The Conversation
· Apr 08, 2018 · 05:30 pm
The family of Dravidian languages is 4,500 years old, finds new study

Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam are the most-spoken languages in the family.

Scroll Staff
· Mar 22, 2018 · 01:21 pm
This animated video on the history of the English language will have you laughing as you learn

“The English language begins with the phrase ‘up yours Caesar’ as the Romans leave Britain”.

Scroll Staff
· Aug 28, 2016 · 06:00 pm

Video

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Origin Of A Language

Who created the alphabet? A historian describes the millennia-long story of the ABCs

The first alphabet was invented in ancient Egypt, more than 5,000 years ago, and was developed to record religious texts.

Jane Sancinito, The Conversation · Feb 17, 2024 · 05:30 pm

‘On the Origins of Human Speech and Language’ shows how it all began on the African continent

The transformation of modern humans from a ‘non-speaking’ to a ‘speaking’ species took place as our hunter-gatherer ancestors migrated out of Africa.

George Poulos, The Conversation · Dec 30, 2022 · 05:30 pm

Swearing like sailors: What the profanities of lascars can teach today’s divided world

The creole language they created shows how finding a way to share experiences can help transcend seemingly insurmountable chasms.

Karunya C Banerjee · Feb 07, 2021 · 11:30 am

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How I invented a new language for the TV version of China Miéville’s novel ‘The City and The City’

Linguist Alison Long helped translate a best-selling novel into the latest BBC television drama.

Alison Long, The Conversation · Apr 08, 2018 · 05:30 pm

The family of Dravidian languages is 4,500 years old, finds new study

Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam are the most-spoken languages in the family.

Scroll Staff · Mar 22, 2018 · 01:21 pm

This animated video on the history of the English language will have you laughing as you learn

“The English language begins with the phrase ‘up yours Caesar’ as the Romans leave Britain”.

Scroll Staff · Aug 28, 2016 · 06:00 pm

Video

Interview: ‘Sceptical that strikes will deter Pak terror’

15 hours ago

Video: Why activists unable to blink an eye went to court against E-KYC

May 04, 2025 · 10:30 am

Video: How will the amended Waqf Act impact India’s constitutional values?

Apr 28, 2025 · 03:30 pm

Want more video stories from Scroll? Help us build a studio

Apr 24, 2025 · 05:15 pm

Eco India: Are Water ATMs a solution to Delhi's water problems?

Apr 20, 2025 · 08:55 am

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Jane Sancinito, The Conversation
· Feb 17, 2024 · 05:30 pm

George Poulos, The Conversation
· Dec 30, 2022 · 05:30 pm

Karunya C Banerjee
· Feb 07, 2021 · 11:30 am

Alison Long, The Conversation
· Apr 08, 2018 · 05:30 pm

Scroll Staff
· Mar 22, 2018 · 01:21 pm

Scroll Staff
· Aug 28, 2016 · 06:00 pm