{"id":2962,"date":"2021-02-04T13:03:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T12:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evolvinglanguage.ch\/?page_id=2962"},"modified":"2025-09-15T10:40:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T08:40:01","slug":"perspectives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/evolvinglanguage.ch\/perspectives\/","title":{"rendered":"Perspectives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n \n Sharing our perspectives on timely topics <\/span>\n <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n \"Illustration <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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A roadmap to gender in language<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Gender and language are inextricably linked, in various ways. Together with experts from the fields of linguistics, psychology and neurolinguistics, we tried to disentangle this topic. Follow us on a journey to discover the origins, present, and future of gender in languages.<\/p>\n\n \n

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\n \n \"Illustration <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Cartographie du genre dans le langage<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Le genre et le langage sont inextricablement li\u00e9s, de diverses mani\u00e8res. En collaboration avec des experts en linguistique, en psychologie et en neurolinguistique, nous avons tent\u00e9 de d\u00e9m\u00ealer cette probl\u00e9matique. Suivez-nous dans ce voyage \u00e0 la d\u00e9couverte des origines, du pr\u00e9sent et de l’avenir du genre dans les langues.<\/p>\n\n \n

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\n \n \"jane <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Reflecting on the impact of Dr. Jane Goodall with the NCCR community<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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On October 1st, 2025, Dr. Jane Goodall passed. Her contributions throughout her long life transformed the field of primatology and reshaped the way we understand humans within the animal kingdom. Here, the members of the NCCR Evolving Language reflect on the impact Dr. Goodall has had, and continues to have, on their work and lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n \n

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\n \n \"jane <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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L’influence de la Dre. Jane Goodall sur la communaut\u00e9 du PRN Evolving Language : une r\u00e9trospective<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Le 1er octobre 2025, la docteure Jane Goodall est d\u00e9c\u00e9d\u00e9e. Ses contributions tout au long de sa longue vie ont transform\u00e9 le domaine de la primatologie et ont red\u00e9fini notre compr\u00e9hension des humains au sein du r\u00e8gne animal. Ici, les membres du PRN Evolving Language r\u00e9fl\u00e9chissent \u00e0 l’impact que la Dre Goodall a eu et continue d’avoir sur leur travail et leur vie.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"\u00a9 <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Rethinking Human-Canid Communication as a two-way street<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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For decades, we have seen dogs as expert interpreters of human cues \u2013 animals that we\u2019ve shaped through artificial selection to fit in with our lifestyles. What if that was only half of the story? Recent findings from researchers of the NCCR Evolving Language challenge this one-sided model and propose a more reciprocal one: communication between humans and canids evolved not just as a linear result of human-driven selection, but rather developed through an interactive process of mutual influence.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"\u00a9 <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Une voie \u00e0 double sens : repenser la communication entre les humains et les canid\u00e9s<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Pendant des d\u00e9cennies, nous avons vu les chiens comme des experts en interpr\u00e9tation des signaux humains \u2013 des animaux que nous avons fa\u00e7onn\u00e9s \u00e0 travers une s\u00e9lection artificielle pour qu\u2019ils soient adapt\u00e9s \u00e0 notre mode de vie. Des d\u00e9couvertes r\u00e9centes de chercheur-ses du PRN Evolving Language remettent en question ce mod\u00e8le unilat\u00e9ral et en proposent un autre, plus r\u00e9ciproque : la communication entre les humains et les canid\u00e9s n’a pas \u00e9volu\u00e9 uniquement comme le r\u00e9sultat lin\u00e9aire d’une s\u00e9lection men\u00e9e par l’Homme, mais s’est plut\u00f4t d\u00e9velopp\u00e9e \u00e0 travers un processus interactif d’influence mutuelle.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"CEPI4YGKYJATPBEHFBG3ZIBRD4 <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Who was Kanzi the famous bonobo<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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On March 18, 2025, the famous bonobo Kanzi died at age 44. But who was Kanzi? Dive into his fascinating life story and hear about our researchers\u2019 encounter with him!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n \n

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\n \n \"CEPI4YGKYJATPBEHFBG3ZIBRD4 <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Who was Kanzi the famous bonobo<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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On March 18, 2025, the famous bonobo Kanzi died at age 44. But who was Kanzi? Dive into his fascinating life story and hear about our researchers\u2019 encounter with him!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Behind the scenes of research<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Discover the backstage of research at the NCCR Evolving Language with Victoria, intern with us during the month of December! After discussing their work and background with researchers Alexis Hervais-Adelman and Marion Bouffier, Victoria has put together a summary for you.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Dans les coulisses de la recherche<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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[InD\u00e9couvrez les coulisses de la recherche au PRN Evolving Language avec Victoria, stagiaire avec nous pendant le mois de d\u00e9cembre ! Apr\u00e8s avoir discut\u00e9 de leur travail et de leur parcours avec les chercheur-se-s Alexis Hervais Adelman et Marion Bouffier, Victoria vous a pr\u00e9par\u00e9 un r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Au coeur des exp\u00e9riences en neuroscience<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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D\u00e9couvrez le t\u00e9moignage d’une \u00e9l\u00e8ve en classe de 11\u00e8me en stage au NCCR Evolving Language sur le campus de Gen\u00e8ve qui d\u00e9crit deux exp\u00e9riences d’un chercheur qu’elle a pu observer.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Au coeur des exp\u00e9riences en neuroscience<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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D\u00e9couvrez le t\u00e9moignage d’une \u00e9l\u00e8ve en classe de 11\u00e8me en stage au NCCR Evolving Language sur le campus de Gen\u00e8ve qui d\u00e9crit deux exp\u00e9riences d’un chercheur qu’elle a pu observer.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"Emmental <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Emmental and AI<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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AI innovations like the chatbot ChatGPT are enthusiastically celebrated and they trigger fears. Ethical discussions on AI should never revolve around the technology alone, says bioethicist Samia Hurst. Above all, it is important that the social, political and economic frameworks in which they are used are right.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Emmental et IA<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Les innovations en mati\u00e8re d\u2019intelligence artificielle (IA) comme le chatbot ChatGPT sont c\u00e9l\u00e9br\u00e9es avec enthousiasme mais d\u00e9clenchent aussi des peurs. Des discussions \u00e9thiques sur l\u2019IA ne devraient jamais se concentrer sur la technologie seule, selon la bio\u00e9thicienne Samia Hurst. Plus que tout, il est important que les cadres sociaux, politiques et \u00e9conomiques dans lesquels l\u2019IA est utilis\u00e9e soient corrects.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"Sillicon <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Silicon brains<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Valentina Borghesani is exploring how meaning is created in our brains. To do so, she works with aphasia patients, but increasingly also with AI language models that can be used […]<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Des cerveaux en silicone<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Valentina Borghesani explore comment le sens se cr\u00e9e dans notre cerveau. Pour cela, elle travaille avec des patients aphasiques, mais aussi de plus en plus avec des mod\u00e8les de langage […]<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Potent, but only moderately intelligent<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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How smart is ChatGPT really? Prof. Martin Volk and Prof. Paola Merlo, Researchers of the NCCR Evolving Language, are testing the chatbot and developing their own smart language models that […]<\/p>\n\n \n

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Capable, mais seulement mod\u00e9r\u00e9ment intelligent<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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\u00c0 quel point ChatGPT est-il intelligent? Des chercheur.se.s du PRN Evolving Language testent son chatbot (programme de discussion) et cherchent \u00e0 d\u00e9velopper leur propre mod\u00e8le de langage intelligent qui serait […]<\/p>\n\n \n

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When our emotions go digital<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Researchers from the University of Lausanne and the EPFL are calling on the Swiss population to annotate emojis. The study aims to unravel the way in which we share our emotions via instant messaging. This is an innovative research topic that is particularly interesting for the preservation of Switzerland’s linguistic heritage.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Quand nos \u00e9motions se conjuguent au num\u00e9rique<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Des chercheurs de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 de Lausanne et de l\u2019EPFL ont pour objectif de d\u00e9cortiquer la mani\u00e8re dont nous partageons nos \u00e9motions par messagerie instantan\u00e9e. L\u2019\u00e9tude, qui est port\u00e9e par le […]<\/p>\n\n \n

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Marketing, money and technology: behind the scenes of the GPT-3<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Over the past 6 months, GPT-3, a language model using deep learning to produce human-like text, has hit the headlines. Some of the articles had even been written by GPT-3 itself. Among other terms, the machine has been described as “stunning”, a “better writer than most humans” but also a bit “frightening”. From poetry to human-like conversation, its capacities appear infinite… but are they really? How does GPT-3 work and what does it say about the future of artificial intelligence? <\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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Marketing, money and technology: behind the scenes of the GPT-3<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Over the past 6 months, GPT-3, a language model using deep learning to produce human-like text, has hit the headlines. Some of the articles had even been written by GPT-3 itself. Among other terms, the machine has been described as “stunning”, a “better writer than most humans” but also a bit “frightening”. From poetry to human-like conversation, its capacities appear infinite… but are they really? How does GPT-3 work and what does it say about the future of artificial intelligence? <\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n <\/span>\n\n \n \n Want more? discover below some papers \"in a nutshell\" <\/span>\n <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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Uncovering the origins of syntax with sooty mangabeys<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Syntax allows us to combine sounds into sequences with almost infinite meanings. How long ago did this capacity appear? Studies from researchers of the University of Neuch\u00e2tel, the University of Lyon 1 and the NCCR Evolving Language investigated this trait in sooty mangabey monkeys.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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What our brain hears beyond words<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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How do we know that a sentence was said by a woman? How do we know that what she told us was a question? Researchers from the University of Zurich and the NCCR Evolving Language described the complex processes happening in our brain, that allow us to understand the information contained in pitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"ASO_2968 <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Acknowledging the skills of local experts<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Scientific expertise of local specialists is critical in animal behaviour research, but often under-recognized and under-appreciated. Based on research conducted at the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda, former NCCR Evolving Language member Adrian Soldati, guest researcher at the University of Zurich, explored the phenomenon in a new study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.<\/p>\n\n \n

Read more<\/a><\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/article>\n\n
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\n \n \"schimpanse_lazima_0854355\" <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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A shared preference in humans and chimpanzees<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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A new study from researchers at the University of Neuch\u00e2tel, published in The Royal Society Open Science, compared the preference for prosocial behaviour, e.g. cooperation, in humans and chimpanzees. Their results uncover surprising similarities that add to our knowledge on the origins of the extraordinary human collaborative and communicative abilities.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Capturing language change through the genes<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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When populations meet, they typically exchange genes. Their languages meet too, and such encounters can change languages. But how much do languages actually change through contact, and do these changes differ depending on the type of contact? To address these questions, an international study led by \u00a0the University of Zurich links global patterns of genetic exchange with linguistic data.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Peru’s Hidden Genetic Legacy links to Ancient Moche Populations<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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The northern coast of Peru is a region known for its rich archaeological heritage, but its people\u2019s history is still underexplored. An international team of geneticists and linguists investigated the deep genetic roots and historical continuity of the region, in a new study published in Scientific Reports.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Associating a sound with the object it refers to<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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A team of researchers from the University of Neuch\u00e2tel studied the ability to associate a new sound with an object, amidst a noisy but familiar environment. This cognitive faculty of rapid association is attested in humans, as well as domesticated animals like cats and dogs. This new research shows that neither gorillas nor orangutans, though they are primates like us, make use of this so-called \u201cfast mapping\u201d ability.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Recognising the behaviour of chimpanzees: let artificial intelligence do the work!<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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To study the behaviour of chimpanzees in a non-intrusive fashion, a team of researchers from the University of Neuch\u00e2tel and Idiap Research Institute, in Martigny, members of the NCCR Evolving Language, have proposed a new approach based on artificial intelligence (AI), to automatically analyse primate videos.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Baby-talk – a human superpower?<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Humans from different cultures speak to their children using a form of speech known as “child-directed speech”, or \u201cbaby talk\u201d. Though to us, it may seem natural to communicate directly with our little ones, it appears that this characteristic is far from prevalent in non-human great apes, new research on the cover of the journal Science Advances shows.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Monkeys, ChatGPT, and Us<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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What do monkeys, ChatGPT, and we have in common? According to Quentin Gallot, a PhD candidate at the University of Neuch\u00e2tel and researcher at NCCR Evolving Language, they all possess extraordinary predictive abilities that manifest in similarities in their communication systems.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Bonobos Combine Calls in Similar Ways to Human Language<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Bonobos create complex and meaningful combinations of calls resembling the word combinations of humans. In this study, researchers at the University of Zurich and Harvard University challenge long-held assumptions about what makes human communication unique and suggest that key aspects of language are evolutionary ancient.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Great Apes Track Subject-Object Relationships the way humans do<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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When observing someone interact with something, humans and apes alternate attention between the two subjects. Great apes track events with their eyes in the same way that humans do, according to a study published on Tuesday in the open-access journal PLOS biology by Vanessa Wilson from the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland, and colleagues.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Grammar lessons with olive colobus monkeys<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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The olive colobus, a discreet primate from the forests of the Ivory Coast, surprises by the richness of its vocal communication. According to a study by the University of Neuch\u00e2tel and the NCCR Evolving Language, despite its limited vocal repertoire, this little monkey is able to transmit a variety of information by combining its calls according to precise rules!<\/p>\n\n \n

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Decoding the structure of marmoset call sequences<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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According to scientists from the University of Zurich and the NCCR Evolving Language, some aspects of language may not be as unique as previously thought. In a new paper, the team of linguists and biologists demonstrate common marmosets are capable of combining more than two calls, with hierarchical rules \u2013 something previously believed to be impossible for animals.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Great leaders listen: Democratic travelling decisions in gorillas<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Western gorillas travel in cohesive groups. To stay together, they need to coordinate when and where to go. Despite the silverback being the dominant and most powerful individual in the group, researchers from the University of Neuchatel and of the Museum National d\u2019Histoire Naturelle observed that all the individuals seem to participate in the decision-making process.<\/p>\n\n \n

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When dogs and humans find a common language<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Humans and dogs have been birds of a feather for millennia. But how can such distant species understand each other? A recent study published in PLOS Biology by researchers from the University of Geneva and the Hearing Institute, reveals that the pair meets halfway between their differences to communicate together.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Behind the optimization of human language: what is the life cycle of words with identical consonants?<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Is there a reason behind the structure of the words we use? Linguist Chundra Cathcart from the University of Zurich and the NCCR Evolving Language investigated a new hypothesis that could explain the relative fewness of words with identical consonants.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Great apes and humans perceive events in a similar way<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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This is an agents\u2019 world. Through a transspecies study, researchers from the University of Neuch\u00e2tel and NCCR Evolving Language have discovered that great apes could have a similar perception of events as humans. This hints at an ancestral origin of syntax features that are universal in human languages, according to Sarah Brocard and her team.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Cultural Networks of Central African Hunter-Gatherers Have Ancient Origin<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Extensive social networks between different hunter-gatherer groups in the Congo Basin existed long before agriculture arrived in the region. This continent-wide exchange preserved a cultural diversity that evolved thousands of years ago, as researchers from the University of Zurich show based on musical instruments, specialized vocabulary and genetic information.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Setting an example for genetic research with indigenous populations<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Can genetic research with indigenous populations be more ethically conducted? This is what Chiara Barbieri and her team believed when starting their work with the Mapuche community, one of the 10 recognized indigenous groups of Chile. In a recent paper, the group reported on this experience to share insights and promote transparent and inclusive science.<\/p>\n\n \n

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\u201cWho is calling?\u201d A novel algorithm to identify individual marmosets based on their call<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Who\u2019s calling? Marmosets are highly social and vocal monkeys, but analyzing these complex communication signals can be tricky. Fortunately, a team of NCCR researchers headed by Prof. Judith M. Burkart has found a solution to this.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Tracing Chile\u2019s Indigenous Roots Through Genetics and Linguistics<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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How do today\u2019s indigenous communities of South America trace back to the history of human migration and contact in the continent? An international team including NCCR members from the UZH has worked to reconstruct the legacy of Chile\u2019s largest indigenous community, the Mapuche, thanks to genetics and linguistics.<\/p>\n\n \n

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Our social interactions begin at a young age<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Children demonstrate early in life social skills and a strong desire to interact with their peers. They engage in social interactions more often than our closest relatives, the great apes, says a study led by researchers from the University of California, San Diego and the University of Neuch\u00e2tel.<\/p>\n\n \n

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New EEG evidence on sentence production<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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\u00a0Some languages require less neural activity than others. But these are not necessarily the ones we would imagine. In a study published today in the journal PLOS Biology, researchers at the University of Zurich have shown that languages that are often considered “easy” actually require an enormous amount of work from our brains.<\/p>\n\n \n

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\n \n \"bonobos\" <\/a>\n <\/figure>\n \t
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Bonobos are sensitive to joint commitments<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Bonobos, when abruptly interrupted in a social activity with another bonobo, resume it, as soon as the interruption is over, with the same partner. <\/p>\n\n \n

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Dwarf mongooses may combine units in order to create new meanings<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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Dwarf mongooses seem to produce a complex call that may be a combination of distinct call units.<\/p>\n\n \n

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