More Than Words

More Than Words (2025) explores the demanding cognitive work behind speech production – a process that strengthens neural pathways and boosts mental capacity. It reveals how spoken language, shaped by evolutionary forces, not only evolves over time but also plays a central role in shaping entire civilizations.

• Learners and educators seeking to enhance learning through dialogue
• Language enthusiasts curious about speech and brain development
• Anyone interested in science-backed ways to boost learning and connection

Maryellen MacDonald is the Donald P. Hayes Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she spent over two decades conducting pioneering research in psycholinguistics. A fellow of the Cognitive Science Society, she has published widely on language comprehension, production, and verbal memory, with her work cited by more than 16,000 researchers worldwide. Her studies span a broad range of populations – from children and young adults to older adults and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease – and include research on language production across six different languages.