Like biological species, languages evolve
There are parallels between the two processes—as Charles Darwin saw
“BECAUSE POLITICS.” “Latinx.” “Doomscrolling.” Language is developing all the time, as new usages like these arise and old ones disappear. One common way to describe this process is to say that “language evolves”. It is an apt formulation, for there is a deep and revealing relationship between linguistic change and biological evolution—along with some big differences.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “On natural declension”
From the November 14th 2020 edition
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