However, unlike communication systems governed by genetic evolution, written communication has followed the rules of cultural evolution. As the wheel evolved from something Sumerian potters first used ...

Ancient symbols, dating back 40,000 years, have been discovered in caves around the globe. These symbols could represent the earliest form of written language, providing a fresh perspective on the ...

Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture. Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work ...

In 1884 the anthropologist Franz Boas returned from Baffin Island with a discovery that would kick off decades of linguistic wrangling: by his count, the local Inuit language had four words for snow, ...

Writing is technology. Like the mating displays of birds-of-paradise and the pheromone trails of ants, it is a form of communication. However, unlike communication systems governed by genetic ...