Writing is a relative latecomer to the history of language. This program tracks its emergence in Mesopotamia, China, and Mesoamerica and its spread down through the millennia via conquest—usually violent, sometimes benign—and colonization. The creation of creoles and pidgins resulting from the interaction of specific populations is also addressed, and speculation is made about the first things to be written down. Noam Chomsky; Peter Daniels, coeditor of The World’s Writing Systems; the Manhattan Institute’s John McWhorter; MIT’s Michel DeGraff; and Salikoko Mufwene, of The University of Chicago, contribute.

Films Media Group

Historical linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Written communication -- History, Writing -- History, Communication -- History, Chinese philology -- History and criticism, Indians of Central America -- Languages, Pidgin languages

Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language

Barua, Stan (Director of photography), Browne, Christene (Producer), Browne, Christene (Director), Chomsky, Noam (Commentator), Films for the Humanities & Sciences (Firm) (Distributor), Syncopated Productions

00:47:52 (HH:MM:SS)

English

Higher education

Name	Films Media Group (Firm)
Role	Publisher
Telephone	800-257-5126
Address	200 Metro Blvd. Suite 124 Hamilton, NJ 08619
Email	[email protected]

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