Language is a uniquely human gift. We have shaped it to our individual and cultural needs, and it has shaped us in return. Professor Lera Boroditsky reveals how the sounds we make with our mouths influence what’s going on inside our brains. And podcaster Helen Zaltzmann shows us how important language can be to our identities, and what happens when those language identities are challenged.

Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. The Allusionist is on tour! Check dates and locations at theallustionist.org/events. And if you haven’t already, listen and subscribe to The Allusionist wherever you get your podcasts.Check out and subscribe to Risk! wherever you get your podcasts.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/historicallyspeakingLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices