Human communication is powered by rules for combining words to generate novel meanings. Such syntactical rules have long been assumed to be unique humans. A new study, published in Nature ...

Photo: flickr/Charles Lam Ordering words to create a variety of meanings (syntax) is a key aspect of human language. Although other animals have language, none so far have been shown to have syntax -- ...

For all the world’s linguistic diversity, human languages still obey certain universal patterns. These run deeper than grammar and syntax; they’re rooted in statistical laws that predict how ...