TED Talks
Mark Pagel: How language transformed humanity
Biologist Mark Pagel shares an intriguing theory about why humans evolved our complex system of language. He suggests that language is a piece of "social technology" that allowed early human tribes to access a powerful new tool:...
TED Talks
TED: You are fluent in this language (and don't even know it) | Christoph Niemann
Without realizing it, we're fluent in the language of pictures, says illustrator Christoph Niemann. In a charming talk packed with witty, whimsical drawings, Niemann takes us on a hilarious visual tour that shows how artists tap into our...
TED Talks
Murray Gell-Mann: The ancestor of language
After speaking at TED2007 on elegance in physics, the amazing Murray Gell-Mann gives a quick overview of another passionate interest: finding the common ancestry of our modern languages.
TED Talks
Steven Pinker: What our language habits reveal
In an exclusive preview of his book The Stuff of Thought, Steven Pinker looks at language and how it expresses what goes on in our minds -- and how the words we choose communicate much more than we realize.
TED Talks
John McWhorter: Txtng is killing language. JK!!!
Does texting mean the death of good writing skills? John McWhorter posits that there’s much more to texting -- linguistically, culturally -- than it seems, and it’s all good news.
Curated Video
The Language of Color
This video explores how the perception of color varies among individuals and cultures. It highlights the influence of language and cultural associations on our interpretation of colors. By examining different languages and their unique...
Curated Video
What Do British People Think Of The French? | Easy English 78
What Do British People Think Of The French? | Easy English 78 Easy Languages is an international video project aiming at supporting people worldwide to learn languages through authentic street interviews and expose the street culture of...
Curated Video
Vila Autódromo // The Story of a Community | Easy Brazilian Portuguese 24
Vila Autódromo // The Story of a Community | Easy Brazilian Portuguese 24 Easy Languages is an international video project aiming at supporting people worldwide to learn languages through authentic street interviews and expose the street...
Curated Video
Deaf Awareness Week
Happy Deaf Awareness Week! Yes, you heard that right. There is a full week dedicated to promoting and celebrating those who are Deaf and hard of hearing, their language and culture. This is celebrated by special gatherings like Silent...
Cerebellum
Prehistoric Man Human Evolution Upper Paleolithic - Migration Of Modern Humans
Beginning in the late nineteenth century and throughout the twentieth century, geologists, archaeologists and paleoanthropologists have given the world evidence of the physical and cultural development of humans. Amazing discoveries...
Tom Nicholas
Postmodernism - WTF? An introduction to Postmodernist Theory
What is postmodernism? This is certainly my most requested What the Theory? video yet. In it, I hope to provide an introduction to postmodernist theory and postmodernist philosophy. Along the way, we'll look at simulacra and...
Schooling Online Kids
History for Kids: Stage 2 - The First Australians
Travel back in time to discover what life was like for the first people who ever lived in Australia. Discover the richness of the world’s oldest continuing culture as you explore rock paintings, Dreamtime stories and Aboriginal...
Tom Nicholas
Structuralism and Semiotics: WTF? Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, Barthes and Structuralism Explained
Structuralism is a form of literary theory which, inspired by semiotics and the linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure, emerged in France in the 1950s. In this week’s episode of What the Theory?, we take a look at how structuralism and...
The Business Professor
Effective Intercultural Negotiations
Effective cross-cultural negotiation requires the ability to adapt communication styles to fit the cultural norms of the other party. This can include adjusting your language, tone, and style of communication to ensure that your message...
Brainwaves Video Anthology
Michael Fullan at BLC14 - The Principal Three Keys to Maximizing Impact
Filmed at Building Learning Communities 2014. Michael Fullan is Professor emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada He is recognized as a worldwide authority on educational...
Wonderscape
Unraveling the Mystery of the Olmec Civilization
This video is a lesson on the Olmec civilization, one of the earliest civilizations in the Americas. It discusses the mystery surrounding the origins and name of the Olmec people, as well as their achievements and cultural practices. The...
Curated Video
Portugal’s Influence on Brazil
Portugal’s Influence on Brazil explores the influence of Portugal on Brazil and the differences in history and culture.
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.5 Language: Lady Macbeth's Soliloquy
New ReviewThis video dissects Shakespeare's soliloquy, focusing on the ominous imagery of the raven and the irony in Lady Macbeth's statement about Duncan coming under her battlements. It explores the cultural associations of ravens with death and...
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.5 Language: "murdering ministers"
New ReviewThis video explores the cultural beliefs surrounding witches in Shakespearean times, highlighting their association with evil spirits. It also delves into the concept of "murdering ministers" as invisible beings who can only be seen when...
Curated Video
Macbeth 1.5 Language: "Make thick my blood"
New ReviewThis video analyzes Lady Macbeth's desire for thickened blood in Shakespeare's "Macbeth," exploring its significance in blocking her conscience and enabling her cruel intentions. The discussion delves into the cultural beliefs of...
Curated Video
ASL Basics: Family Signs in American Sign Language
Are you ready to learn some family signs? Well in this video you will learn 47 family signs along with phrases that you can start using those signs in conversations today! Yes, we've done a video on family signs before, but they were...
Curated Video
Symbols, Values & Norms: Crash Course Sociology
What exactly is culture? This week we’re going to try to answer that, and explain the difference between material and non-material culture. We’ll look at three things that make up culture: symbols, values and beliefs, and norms. We’ll...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: How interpreters juggle two languages at once - Ewandro Magalhaes
Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic. Given the complexities of language and cultural exchange, how do these epic miscommunications not happen all the...
MinuteEarth
Why You Shouldn't Give Ginger To Monkeys (and other animal sayings)
Humans from different cultures anthropomorphize different animals to represent the same human traits. ___________________________________________ To learn more, start your googling with these keywords: Sunshower: A meteorological...