11 a.m., May 17, 2026
Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we discuss Language.
Language is a distinctly human ability that allows us to communicate with more precision than any other animal.
This Sunday we will watch two TED talks on this wonderful talent.
In the first video, The Origin and Evolution of Language, Michael Corballis discusses the evolution of speech centers of our brains from the grasping centers of monkeys and the probable development of language.
Michael Corballis was an Emeritus Professor of cognitive neuroscience and psychology at the University of Auckland. His research spanned brain asymmetry, handedness, mental imagery, memory, and the evolution of language. He is the author of over 400 papers and 14 books.
You can watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd5cklw6d6Q
In the second video, Both Not Half: How language shapes identity, Jassa Ahluwalia describes growing up torn by two identities. His mother was British and his father Punjabi and he grew up immersed in both languages.
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia is a British actor, writer, filmmaker, and radio presenter known for roles in BBC Three’s Some Girls, ITV’s Unforgotten, Ripper Street, and Peaky Blinders. Of British-Indian heritage and fluent in Punjabi, he created the #BothNotHalf campaign on mixed identity, delivered a TEDx talk, and fronted the award-winning BBC One documentary Am I English?.
You can watch this video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP0bAQ8J6C0
Attend in Person
Join fellow Humanists in the Neutra House Conference Center, 181 Hillview Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022-3742. Lunch will be served after the forum. We suggest a $10 donation.
Attend Online
Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634
Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
Find an international phone number to call: here.
Like us on Facebook:
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Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2026-05-17/
RSVP on Meetup:
: https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/314082415/
Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508