Language evolution and genetics

The intersection between genetics and linguistics is contributing to improve our understanding of language evolution. Phylogenetic and ancient DNA studies, when coupled to functional genetics are clarifying how our language-ready brain and our speech organs emerged because of selected changes in genetic and epigenetic signalling controlling development. Population genetics using past and present-day human samples is providing a sharper view of prehistoric human societies, and specifically, of the social dynamics in the past that contributed to language complexification through cultural processes and to language diversification through population divergences and admixtures.