$20 off $100 or Buy 3 Get 1 FREE

We all use language every day of our lives. Language, regardless of the particular dialect spoken, is the tool we use to express our wants, our needs, and our feelings.

Recently, many experts who study language have become convinced by an idea about this remarkable human trait that was, only a few decades ago, utterly revolutionary. These experts believe that the capacity for spoken language and the rules for its structure are not cultural but universal—a set of rules shared by humans in every culture and that even may be hardwired into our brains. Moreover, these rules apply regardless of which of the world’s 6,000 languages are being spoken.

But what are these rules? How do they work? And how can knowing them enhance your experience of the world?

 * Photos and promotional materials on this page are copyrighted on The Great Courses.

We only endorse high-quality online courses and educational content. This page contains affiliate links and we may earn a small commission when you click on the link at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Read the full policy here