Two linguistic science specialists join us in this conversation from 1996 as we ask and they answer such basic questions as: How did language originate? Do non-human animals ever achieve real language? What are the major families of language? Why and how do languages change and new ones emerge? If the French (actually from Normandy) had not successfully invaded Britain in 1066, would the English language exist? These and many other fascinating issues are discussed by our two guests while the host goes on to recite the middle-English prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.