How Fast Do Languages Evolve? - Dyirbal glottochronology 1 of 2

Do some languages change faster than others? Discover an Australian language that seemed to change incredibly fast in a generation, and meet a linguist who claimed that all tongues evolve at the same rate. Subscribe for language: Be my patron: ~ BRIEFLY ~ Dyirbal (pronounced like “gerbil“) is an eccentric language from Australia. Robert Dixon documented its marvelous features in a book that still captivates grammar nerds and syntacticians. However, when linguists came back to study it just decades later, they encountered a language with very different features. Take a look at some of Dyirbal’s traits and its changes. Then meet Swadesh, who thought he could explain language change using word lists and math. Learn the basics of the method and consider what it says about language change, notably the claim that all languages change at the same pace. This is only half the story. Next time, we’ll return to Australia and explore the complexities of language change by asking, “How long before a language becomes unrecognizable?“ ~ CREDITS ~ Art, narration, animation and some music by Josh from NativLang Sources for claims and credits for imgs, music and sfx: -- Music that’s not mine -- Pieces I pulled from other talents. All come from artists worth checking out and are used under a CC BY license. Kevin MacLeod (): Chee Zee Jungle, The Sky of our Ancestors, The Path of the Goblin King v2, Thinking Music Jason Shaw (): Time Passing By, Sneaky Snooper Josh Woodward (Free download: ): Twinklebell, Cherubs