CAS TALK: WHAT 7000 LANGUAGES TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY OF HUMANITIES?
April 10, 2026
On April 8, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) successfully hosted a talk titled “What Do 7000 Languages Reveal About the History of Humanity?”, attracting strong interest and active participation from both faculty members and students.
The talk was led by Professor Umberto Ansaldo, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, a distinguished scholar in linguistics with key research areas including language contact, linguistic typology, and language documentation and preservation. With more than 15 years of experience in academic leadership at leading universities such as the University of Hong Kong, the University of Sydney, and Curtin University, Professor Ansaldo has made significant contributions to curriculum development, research strategy, and the advancement of the social sciences and humanities. He is also the author of numerous influential academic publications and scholarly books in the field.
During the session, Professor Ansaldo guided participants on an engaging journey of discovery, where the diversity of more than 7000 languages worldwide was presented as a “living map” reflecting patterns of human migration, evolution, and social interaction over thousands of years. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining linguistics, genetics, and human geography, the talk offered profound and fresh insights into how we interpret history and understand the nature of humanity.
Beyond its academic value, the talk also sparked meaningful and practical reflections. Participants were encouraged to recognize that each language embodies a unique identity, and that preserving linguistic diversity is, in essence, preserving the cultural memory of humankind. The Q&A session was lively, with many thought-provoking questions from faculty and students, demonstrating strong interest in language-related issues in the context of globalization and rapid technological development.
Let’s take a look back at some memorable moments from the talk with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)!
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