Familects: the origin of (almost) everything

A familect is the type of inward-oriented language variety used by families. Compared to other more outward-oriented vernacular varieties, it exhibits some distinctive features which result from its main functions: bonding and marking identity. Familects also share some characteristics with child language and child-oriented speech, as well as with forms of language play. Additionally, most of the familectal features can be found in the languages spoken by small, isolated, close-knit human groups. This commentary aims at reviewing both the idiosyncratic features of familects and their overlaps with other vernacular varieties, and at advancing some functional explanations for their characteristics. The paper is also a call for researchers to explore further this understudied variety otherwise expected to be found in all human languages. This effort should contribute to a better understanding of language diversity, language change, and language evolution.