As a child, I dreamed of talking to animals. Not just some casual small talk, but real, deep conversations. Imagine what a bird could tell about the direction of the clouds! That sounded far more interesting than the curt answers from my teacher back then, who didn’t have time for such pointless babble.
Although I still don’t talk to birds today – and I now know that the wind is what’s behind the clouds – I’m trying to understand why my childhood dream will most likely remain impossible. Why did humans develop language, and why haven’t other animals done so in quite the same way? In my research, I aim to answer this question by exploring the unique features of human language and how they differ from communication in other species.
My work focuses on the evolutionary history of the biological and cognitive processes that make language possible. To do this, I combine insights from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and linguistics to uncover the mechanisms behind the emergence of complex language structures. I also investigate how factors such as social behaviour and ecological challenges have shaped the development of language over time.
Unique perspective
Language is deeply intertwined with what it means to be human. Precisely because it is such a fundamental part of our identity, studying language objectively can be a challenge. As an autistic researcher, I bring a unique perspective to both language and communication, and the relationship between the two.
My ability to break away from conventional patterns allows me to challenge established assumptions and dig deeper into the core question of why only humans developed language as it exists today. Through this lens, I work toward a better understanding of the origins of this uniquely human trait, striving to contribute to a more nuanced view of what language truly means.
kathetgedacht 