Because we have language, we have modern technology, culture, art and scientific inquiry.
Only humans can perform this spectacular time-traveling feat, just as only humans can penetrate the stratosphere or bake strawberry shortcake. Because we have language, we have modern technology, culture, art and scientific inquiry. We have the ability to ask questions such as, Why is language unique to humans? Despite the accumulated genius we inherit when we learn to speak or sign, we have yet to work out a good answer. But a diverse group of brain scientists, linguists, animal researchers and geneticists are tackling the question—so we are much closer to a real understanding than ever before.