# New idea for the origin of language

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-science-show-887135/new-idea-for-the-origin-of-language
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-science-show-887135/new-idea-for-the-origin-of-language.md
Podcast: [The Science Show](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-science-show-887135)
Published: 2026-03-13T21:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/scienceshow/new-idea-for-the-origin-of-language/106378862
Audio file: https://mediacore-live-production.akamaized.net/audio/02/ij/Z/f3.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-science-show-887135/episodes/new-idea-for-the-origin-of-language
Duration seconds: 3276

## Resource

Conventional explanations for how humans became ‘the language animal’ focus on our need to cooperate to hunt, fight or make tools. Now, evolutionary biologist Madeleine Beekman suggests a new idea for origin of language: the need to share childcare.

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## Transcript

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