Is there a quality more uniquely human than language? The domain of language is vast and complex and involves many disciplines. In this series we will explore many of the big questions about language and cover a range of topics from evolution, biology, linguistics, anthropology, psychology and philosophy. On our search for answers we’ll gain a deeper understanding of what language is, how it emerged in humans, and how it functions in individuals and society.In this first episode of the series, I introduce the topic of language, raise several of the big questions and attempt to understand what language is. We also take our first tentative steps toward answering the biggest question of all: how did language emerge in homo sapiens?Show notes and further readingThe Here and Now Podcast Language SeriesLanguage – Collins Online DictionaryGenesis Chapter 11, verses 1 - 9Talking the Talk: Language Psychology and Science – Trevor Harley (2017)Daniel EverettHow Language Began – Daniel Everett (2017)A Basic Course in Anthropological Linguistics – Marcel Danesi (2004)Max MüllerOn the origin of species – Charles Darwin (1859)Psamtik I and the babies talk of breadKing James IV and the island experiment – BBC HistoryThe Here and Now Podcast on Facebook The Here and Now Podcast on Twitter Send me an emailSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/thehereandnowpodcast)