7,000 Languages

More than seven thousand languages are spoken around the globe, and researchers have picked up on a curious fact: as you move from the Earth’s poles toward the equator, you hear more languages. Why do humans speak so many languages? And why so many more in the tropics? Do languages diversify the way animal species do?Dr. Michael Gavin, an ecologist in Colorado State University’s Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, is looking for answers on islands in the South Pacific.This program originally aired August 15, 2017.Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472