Genetics and Language

Question 1

links between genomics and language

Answer 1

• Genome-dependent component to language learning
   It is easier for children to learn a language.
• Human-spoken languages have many features in common with biological species.
   Both exhibit varying degrees of similarity and diversity.
   Dialects are analogous to haplotypes.
• Some languages have become extinct, and yet some have been rescued from extinction; endangered Khomani San language (N|u)
• Correlation exists between people’s native language and physical features.
   Blue eyes = Swedish; brown eyes = Mandarin
• Clustering of genetic variation among human populations and language groups
   Basque people vs language: infer the timeframe of language origin + divergence.
   Discrepancy; conquerors vs Indigenous population
   Language differences can create cultural barriers to gene flow.
• Language, as a biological phenomenon, links genomics with other disciplines, including neurobiology, medicine and anthropology
   Genes provide clues as to why language was not resolved in Neanderthals and Denisovans