Language

Utterances like um, wow and mm-hmm aren’t garbage—they keep conversations flowing

The sounds we make during emotional moments or when experiencing pain may not be arbitrary

A rare and deliberate signal between a mother chimpanzee and her daughter raises new questions about ape communication, culture and the meaning of sharing a language

Play this crossword inspired by the March 2025 issue of Scientific American

Humpback whales learn their haunting melodies in much the same way humans learn words

Play this crossword inspired by the February 2025 issue of Scientific American

Linguists think that the words that we use to express pain might tell us something about our shared biology and the commonality of language.

This year scientists found universal language for pain, tracked why some words go extinct, developed mind-reading brain-to-speech technology, and more

Play this crossword inspired by the January 2025 issue of Scientific American

The 2024 word-of-the-year winners offer a window into the spirit of the times

From “ouch” to “aïe” to “yakayi,” languages across the world exclaim pain using similar-sounding words, hinting at a common origin

Play this crossword inspired by the December 2024 issue of Scientific American