Charles Hockett

Charles Hockett was an American linguist known for identifying key features that distinguish human language from animal communication. He proposed a set of design features, such as openness (ability to create new messages), displacement (discussing things not present), and duality of patterning (combining basic sounds into complex messages). His work helped scientists understand how language's unique qualities evolved and what makes human speech special. Hockett's insights remain influential in linguistics, cognitive science, and communication studies.