Why do humans use only a fraction of the sounds our mouths can make?
In short: This video explores the gap between the sounds human vocal tracts are physically capable of producing and the specific sounds actually utilized in the world's languages. It examines why certain phonetic possibilities remain unused in established linguistic systems.
The video investigates the mechanics of human speech, specifically focusing on the International Phonetic Association (IPA) and the classification of sounds. It highlights the existence of sounds that are theoretically possible but absent from common language, such as the labiodental flap, which was officially approved as a new IPA sound in 2005.
By referencing the historical development of the English language and linguistic research, the video provides context on how phonetic inventories are formed and why they remain limited. It serves as an inquiry into the intersection of biological capability and cultural linguistic evolution.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Language Sounds That Could Exist, But Don't
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