Communication and language

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A kakapo, a flightless parrot, perched on a mossy branch in a forest setting.

Cultural diversity

idea

Insularity can be a good thing, for creatures and cultures alike

The plight of threatened species can help us understand – and respond to – the endangerment of local ideas and practices

by Antone Martinho-Truswell

A group of people engaged in a heated discussion outdoors with diverse expressions and gestures.

Communication and language

idea

Why every utterance you make begins with a leap of faith

Time pressure and the limitations of memory compel you and your listener to engage in a fascinating linguistic trade-off

by Julie Sedivy

Ancient elongated humanoid statue with a minimalist design and folded arms, carved from a reddish stone, against a grey background.

Communication and language

guide

How to say no

It’s a little word, but if you’re a chronic people pleaser it can be so tricky to say it. These tips and tricks will help

by Shayla Love

Still image from a VHS tape depicting child and a woman blowing out birthday cake candles together, both wearing red, with people in the background.

Parenting and families

film

Love is no simple thing for a mother and the daughter she raised alone

Directed by Ellie Wen

An ancient Greek clay jug with red stripes and inscriptions against a dark background.

Communication and language

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I am an article about the speaking objects of ancient Greece

Talkative drinking cups and threatening oil flasks tell us how the written word asserted its authority in an oral society

by Teddy Fassberg

A plane docked at Bologna Airport at sunset with the terminal and control tower in the background.

Communication and language

idea

Speaking a different language can change how you act and feel

For many multilinguals, switching between tongues can lead to shifts in personality, revealing the malleability of the self

by Antonella Gismundi

Man in white shirt leaning out, speaking into a large megaphone overlooking a sea filled with distant ships and smoke on the horizon.

Communication and language

guide

How to find your voice

Do you sometimes feel silenced or afraid to speak up? Learn to use your natural voice and be heard for who you really are

by Sophie Scott

A hand-drawn pie chart titled “Why I Do Not Read Lips,” with segments like “Honey, it’s not game night – no charades please,” “Too much eye contact, I have my limits,” and “Olive juice my ass.”

Creativity

film

This artist’s clever work moves Deaf culture from the margins to centre stage

Directed by Chiemi Karasawa

Photo of a busy night street market with people and colourful tricycles in the Philippines, lit by street lights and signage.

Communication and language

idea

The tentacles of language are always on the move

An evolutionary biologist explains how human language can shift as slowly or rapidly as organisms adapting to life on Earth

by Klaus M Stiefel

A photo of three people in a lively discussion in a bar. They are gesturing with their hands while talking animatedly.

Thinking and intelligence

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Expert tips on using gestures to think and talk more effectively

The gesticulations that accompany your speech are so much more than mere hand-waving – they contain and convey meaning

by Susan Goldin-Meadow

Back view of a man holding a child at an outdoor evening gathering with string lights in the background.

Stigma and taboo

guide

How to talk about your mental illness

Careful disclosure can be highly rewarding. Use tips from the Honest, Open, Proud programme to share your story

by Carla Kundert & Patrick W Corrigan

Close-up of a green parrot with a red forehead and white around its eyes, looking directly at the camera.

Wonder and the sublime

film

The search for life beyond Earth is peculiar, from a parrot’s perspective

Directed by Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla