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Language acquisition

A babbling pup produces distinct syllables, visualized in this composite image.

Bat pups babble and bat moms use baby talk, hinting at the evolution of human language

Development

A researcher finds a remarkable link between how baby bats babble in monosyllables as they learn to speak in the same way that human infants do.

Baby and mother

Bilingual babies practice lip-reading long before monolingual counterparts

Science
SEALS_language2

Enter the school that’s raising the bar for bilingual education

Education
A Haitian child who will be placed for adoption sleeps in his crib at an orphanage outside of Port-au-Prince.

There may be languages lurking in your unconscious mind

Science

The benefits of being bilingual

Environment

The Bilingual Advantage

Americans have long debated whether the U.S. should have an official state language. The issue has been back in the spotlight in recent days since Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum said, “There are other states with more than one language, like Hawaii, but to be a state of the United States, English must be the […]

The World

Up Close With Language Super Learners

The World in Words

The latest World in Words podcast continues a conversation with Michael Erard about his new book, Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners.

The Road to Hyperpolyglottery with Michael Erard

The World in Words

A new book investigates language super-learners and their “will to plasticity”.

The World

Podcast: Memorizing the Koran and a New ‘Speak English’ Test

The World in Words

A Spelling Bee for Muslim World, a language proficiency test for immigrants to Britain, and Alaskans learn an African language.

The World

More U.S. kids growing up bilingual

Arts, Culture & Media

Despite efforts to limit bilingualism in classrooms, more and more American parents are raising their children to speak two or more languages.