What is the origin of human language? This question has preoccupied philosophers and scientists throughout the millennia, from Plato to Darwin to Chomsky. The theory of evolution might bear answers to this ancient question, but it still can’t explain the compelling diversity of over 7000 languages and their unusual distribution around the world. A new approach, bringing together two seemingly very different disciplines ‒ biology and linguistics ‒, might help us get closer to the answer. Wassima Fahsi is a linguistics graduate and foreign language teacher, who took on the challenge to explain the unexpected and striking similarities between cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx