that National Geographic special

[Rodlox]

Does anyone remember, a few years ago there was a National Geographic program about language diversity and the effort to document languages?

Almost all I can remember from it, besides the occasional non-English word printed on the screen (with its translation) to give an impression of linguistic diversity. One of the linguists in it was shown working with a native speaker, and he said to the camera that this man's language substituted a different word in certain circumstances - the man couldn't articulate the rules for why, but he knew when to do the substitution.

I think it had the word "Babel" in the program title, written in lots of scripts.

Does anyone recall this?


(and yes, I ran a search for "babel" and "national geographic" before making this post)

[Gojera]

My amazing Google powers couldn't find it, but I did find this video Lips of Babel, which is great.

[fahrradkette]

Could it be this?

[Rodlox]

Could it be this?

*checks that out*

Parts of it sound familiar...but that said they started around, what, 2008? The program I saw was in the first half of the 2000s. (post-9/11 too)

sorry.

[TomHChappell]

My amazing Google powers couldn't find it, but I did find this video Lips of Babel, which is great.

Yes, it's great! Thanks.