Santa Fe
Institute
  • Research
    • Themes
    • Projects
    • SFI Press
    • Researchers
    • Publications
    • Library
    • Sponsored Research
    • Fellowships
    • Miller Scholarships
  • News + Events
    • News
    • Newsletters
    • Podcasts
    • SFI in the Media
    • Media Center
    • Events
    • Community
    • Journalism Fellowship
  • Education
    • Programs
    • Projects
    • Alumni
    • Complexity Explorer
    • Education FAQ
    • Postdoctoral Research
    • Education Supporters
  • People
    • Researchers
    • Fractal Faculty
    • Staff
    • Miller Scholars
    • Trustees
    • Governance
    • Resident Artists
    • Research Supporters
  • Applied Complexity
    • Office
    • Applied Projects
    • ACtioN
    • Applied Fellows
    • Studios
    • Applied Events
    • Login
  • Give
    • Give Now
    • Ways to Give
    • Contact
  • About
    • About SFI
    • Engage
    • Complex Systems
    • FAQ
    • Campuses
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Library
    • Employee Portal

Science for a Complex World

Events

Here's what's happening

Give

You make SFI possible

Subscribe

Sign up for research news

Connect

Follow us on social media

© 2026 Santa Fe Institute. All rights reserved. This site is supported by the Miller Omega Program.

Home / Culture / Podcasts

Ep. 2: The relationship between language and thought

Supersymmetric brain (artwork by Ricard Solé)
  1. Description
  2. Transcript
  3. Notes

Complex language is unique to the human species. It’s part of how we evolved, the backbone of our societies, and one of the primary ways we judge others’ intellect. Is it our intelligence that leads to our language abilities, or conversely, does our ability for language enhance our intelligence, or both? How do language and thinking interact? And can one exist without the other? Guests: Evelina Federenko, Steve Piantadosi, and Gary Lupyan.

Share
  • Sign Up For SFI News