In this paper, I argue that palatography is a highly informative tool despite its apparent simplicity. The paper begins with an overview of the evolution of palatography, highlighting its intricate detail and variations. Following this, various techniques of palatography are introduced, along with associated challenges, which partly question established views. Subsequently, I suggest linguistic applications of palatography, focusing on its potential to describe place of articulation and inform phonological typology. Moreover, I propose that the inclusion of palatographic data in linguistic accounts can explain contact-induced changes in phonological systems and intra- and inter-speaker articulatory variation. This proposition is supported by a preliminary panel study of a Shughni speaker who demonstrated changes in articulation over one year.