The article reviews three books that illuminate the expansive story of languages, focusing on Indo-European, the largest language family. Laura Spinney's book, Proto, discusses the widespread nature of Indo-European languages, which engage about half of the global population. J.P. Mallory’s The Indo-Europeans Rediscovered further investigates the origins of this language family, noting various theories, some fantastical, that have emerged over years. In contrast, Lorna Gibb’s Rare Tongues sheds light on extinct and endangered languages, showcasing a broader linguistic diversity across time and cultures, providing valuable insights into human evolution and communication.
Almost every second person on Earth speaks Indo-European, highlighting its global prevalence and the significance of this language family in human communication and evolution.
The origin of the Indo-European language family has been the 'Holy Grail for many intellectuals,' sparking countless theories regarding its beginnings and geography.
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