The present research advances our understanding of the role of social structure in shaping the ways that language changes over time. We focus on two theories regarding the forces that shape language change: the universal benefit hypothesis, where languages become easier so everyone can comprehend; and the insider benefit hypothesis, where languages change in ways that benefit only members of the specific members of the language community, becoming more difficult for outsiders to comprehend. Study 1 (N=48) investigated social structure’s influence on language structure. Results did not cleanly align with either hypothesis, but this pattern may have been due to the limited time of existence for the two systems. Study 2(N= 48) investigated an outsider’s comprehension on different types of semiotic systems. Results were consistent with the insider benefit hypothesis which states that language was created to benefit insiders and evolved for easy usability. Study 3 (N= 51) investigated an insider’s and outsider’s comprehensibility of improvised and established semiotic systems at different lengths of existence. Results were again consistent with the insider benefit.