Another great site from Exploratorium (described in the February 21, 1997 Scout Report) The Evolution of Language provides users with tools to trace and explore the evolution of the spoken and written word. Enhanced by audio interviews with linguist Merritt Ruhlen, author of The Origin of Language: Tracing the Evolution of the Mother Tongue, this simple but well crafted site provides a nice jumping off point for those interested in the subject. Several exercises and tables help users explore how linguists trace word use and creation as well as how they group languages into common families. Also included is basic information about the history of linguistics and the roots of language classification.