Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language Today there are over 6000 languages spoken around the world. In this ground breaking documentary series we will look at the many factors that have played a role in the linguistic diversity that currently exists. Theories and controversies will be passionately debated amongst some of the most prominent individuals in the field. Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language will be insightful, educational and inspirational 5 part documentary series that will shred light on our shared history and culture. It will look at what sets us apart and unites us and why language is so very important to our survival and evolution. Through an array of interviews with world renowned linguist and intellects, stock footage from around the globe, archival footage, movie clips, poetry, Streeters, illustrations and animation, Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language will look at language from prehistoric time to the present. “Episode 1:  Let There Be Words” “Episode 2:  Constant Change” “Episode 3:  Mother Tongues” “Episode 4:  Civilization to Colonization” “Episode 5:  Life and Death”   "EPISODE #1 “LET THERE BE WORDS” It is said that language is what sets humans apart from all other species and ultimately we would not be who we are without language. In Episode #1: “Let There Be Words” a wide array of experts will define what language is. We will go back to early prehistoric time and attempt to trace the possible origins of language. Various theories of language origin will be presented and debated passionately. Speculation about what the first utterances might have been will be examined. What distinguishes human communication from all other forms of animal communication will also be discussed.  The early evolution and migration of humans and the development of the brain and vocal apparatus will provide a backdrop for this discussion. Some of the contributing experts: Noam Chomsky, Murray Gell- Mann, Peter Lieberman, Richard Klein, Johanna Nichols, Merritt Ruhlen, Sergie Starostin, Luigi Luca Cavalli- Sforza, Lyle Campbell   EPISODE #2 “CONSTANT CHANGE” The Tower of Babel is a Biblical story that illustrates how one language was changed into a vast amount of languages. Since all languages are in a constant stage of change the diversification of languages is a real phenomenon.  In Episode #2: “Constant Change” we will look at the factors that contributed to the diversification and spread of languages. Early migration, the introduction of agriculture, and genes will be some factors that will be discussed and debated.  A look at how language is transferred from mother to child and from one population to the next and the internal and the external factors that contribute to language change will also be examined.  How languages splinter off into dialects and how dialects then can become new languages will also be considered.  A general discussion about what all the worlds 6000 languages have in common will also take place. The episode will end with a brief summary of the study of language and some of the important contributions that have been make by a few of the most prominent linguists throughout history. Some of the contributing experts: Luigi Luca Cavalli- Sforza, Lyle Campbell, John McWhorter, Brian Joseph   EPISODE #3 “MOTHER TONGUES”  One will be surprised to discover that there are more than 1500 languages spoken on the continent of Africa and in Oceania 0.1percent of the world’s population speak about ¼ of all the world’s languages. In Episode # 3: “Mother Tongues” we will journey from Africa to Oceania up to Asia, further north to Europe and across the ocean to the Americas and survey a vast amount of the world’s languages. We will find out how many languages are spoken in each region and what characteristics the languages of that region share. Misconceptions about certain languages will also be discussed. Various expansions of assorted populations will be examined to show how movement of populations played a large part in the proliferation of certain language. Historical backgrounds of some key languages of the various regions of the world will also be highlighted. Some of the contributing experts: Larry Hyman, Sam Mchombo, Salikoko Mufwene, Hua Lin, Jay Jasanoff, Lyle Campbell   EPISODE #4 “CIVILIZATION TO COLONIZATION” It is said that if language begun at 12:00 AM then writing didn’t come along until 11:00 PM. It is also said that writing may just mark the beginning of civilization as we know it. In Episode # 4:“Civilization to Colonization” we will look at the emergence and development of various writing systems from around the world. Special focus will be given to the origins of writing in the 3 key areas: Mesopotamia, China and Mesoamerica. Speculations will be made about the first things that were written down and the roles that writing may have played in the spread of certain languages.  The effect that violence and dominance of certain ancient empires and imperial powers had on the propagation of their languages will also be examined.  The Roman, Greek and Islamic empires will be at center of this discussion. The role that European colonization played in the proliferation of certain languages will also be examined. The creation of Creoles and Pidgins that resulted from the interaction of specific populations throughout the globe will also be explored in the latter part of the episode. Some of the contributing experts: Peter T. Daniels, Salikoko Mufwene, Michel DeGraff, John McWhorter, Noam Chomsky   EPISODE #5 “BIRTH AND DEATH” It is believed that in just one hundred years more than 50% of all of the world’s languages will be extinct. The languages that are spoken by the smallest amount of people in the most remote areas are the ones most at risk. As languages are lost however, new ones emerge naturally and others are constructed by very diligent scholars. In the Episode #5: “Birth and Death” we will look at the phenomenon of artificial/constructed languages.  A special focus will be given to Esperanto. A discussion of language endangerment and preservation and the role that globalization is playing in the lost of languages will follow. In conclusion, experts will offer their opinion on the future of language.  They will discuss the current trends and speculate about what languages may emerge as important languages in the future. Some of the contributing experts: Thomas Escardt, Lyle Campbell, Peter Ladefoged, Hua Lin, Noam Chomsky   Languages: Chinese and English