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Language use & design: conflicts & their significance | Prof Noam Chomsky

UCD - University College Dublin・2 minutes read

Language is explored in terms of sound and meaning, with a focus on the relationship between them and the historical development of this discussion. The text delves into various aspects of language, from its internal nature and external expression to its evolution, neural basis, acquisition, and the challenges of studying it, emphasizing the complexity and significance of language in human life.

Insights

  • Language is seen as a generative procedure that structures interpretations, with the brain as its primary location, emphasizing its internal nature as an organ of the body.
  • The debate over whether language primarily serves as a tool for thought or communication is rooted in historical perspectives, with humans showing a stable language capacity since leaving Africa.
  • The lack of evolution in human language capacity over thousands of years, coupled with the emergence of language around 75-100,000 years ago, suggests a significant leap in creative activity and social development tied to language.

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Recent questions

  • What is the relationship between sound and meaning in language?

    The text explores the neglected aspect of the relationship between sound and meaning in language, emphasizing the classical formula that language is sound with meaning. It delves into the questions of what sound and meaning are, shedding light on their intricate connection and how this relationship shapes the fundamental nature of language.

  • How has language evolved in human history?

    The emergence of language in human history, possibly around seventy-five to a hundred thousand years ago, is linked to a significant leap in creative activity and social development. The lack of evolution in the language capacity of humans over the past fifty to eighty thousand years is highlighted, indicating a stable language capacity since humans left Africa. This suggests that language played a crucial role in the advancement of human societies and cognitive abilities.

  • What is the internal nature of language according to the text?

    The text emphasizes the internal nature of language, primarily located in the brain, indicating that language is effectively an organ of the body. It discusses language as a generative procedure or finite computational procedure, suggesting that language's structures and interpretations are determined by this internal procedure. This insight provides a deeper understanding of how language functions within the human cognitive system.

  • How does language externalize in different forms of expression?

    The text discusses the externalization of language, suggesting that language's form of expression is modality-independent, allowing for visual, signed, or tactile forms of communication. This highlights the versatility of language in adapting to various modes of expression beyond just spoken words. By exploring these different forms of language externalization, the text provides insights into the diverse ways in which language can be manifested and understood.

  • What challenges exist in studying the neural basis of language?

    The text discusses the challenges in studying the neural basis of language due to its unique nature and lack of comparative systems. It emphasizes the need for sophisticated and indirect research methods to unravel the complexities of language processing in the brain. By addressing these challenges, the text underscores the intricacies involved in investigating the neural mechanisms underlying language and the importance of innovative research approaches in this field.

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Summary

00:00

The Essence of Language: Sound and Meaning

  • The fundamental nature of language, its purpose, and design are discussed, with a focus on the classical formula that language is sound with meaning.
  • The questions of what sound, meaning, and the relationship between them are explored, highlighting the neglected aspect of the relationship between sound and meaning.
  • The historical development of discussions on sound and meaning is traced, with a particular emphasis on the width problem, which remains largely unexplored.
  • The concept of language as a generative procedure or finite computational procedure is introduced, suggesting that language's structures and interpretations are determined by this procedure.
  • The internal nature of language, primarily located in the brain, is emphasized, indicating that language is effectively an organ of the body.
  • The externalization of language is discussed, suggesting that language's form of expression is modality-independent, allowing for visual, signed, or tactile forms of communication.
  • The debate between language as primarily an instrument of thought versus a tool for communication is outlined, with a historical perspective on the evolution of these views.
  • The lack of evolution in the language capacity of humans over the past fifty to eighty thousand years is highlighted, indicating a stable language capacity since humans left Africa.
  • The emergence of language in human history, possibly around seventy-five to a hundred thousand years ago, is linked to a significant leap in creative activity and social development.
  • The challenges in studying the neural basis of language due to its unique nature and lack of comparative systems are discussed, emphasizing the need for sophisticated and indirect research methods.

21:54

"Universal grammar challenges linear language order"

  • The text discusses a complex computation principle present in all known constructions and languages, suggesting a far-reaching impact.
  • Supporting evidence from neuroscience, particularly an experiment involving German speakers and invented languages, showcases brain activation patterns based on adherence to or violation of universal grammar principles.
  • Observations of cognitively impaired but linguistically capable subjects further support the idea that children instinctively prioritize structural distance over linear distance in language learning.
  • The text challenges the prevailing belief that linear order is crucial in language computation, proposing that structural properties like hierarchy play a more significant role.
  • Evolutionary evidence suggests that the sensorimotor system predates language, indicating that language design prioritizes semantic interpretation over communicative efficiency.
  • The text critiques the behavioral science trend of the 20th century and the belief in computers' ability to mimic human thought, highlighting the confusion surrounding the concept of machines thinking.
  • It emphasizes the internal nature of language use, with most language usage being internal and involving self-talk, challenging the idea that all mental processes are accessible to introspection.

44:06

Language Acquisition and Perception: Key Findings

  • Visual perception study by David Mars lab revealed the rigidity principle, showing that multiple presentations of dots on a screen create the perception of a rigid object in motion, despite historical lack of experience with rigid objects.
  • Speaking to oneself involves constructing sentences unconsciously, with only fragments reaching consciousness, supported by experiments on decision-making showing actions are often beyond conscious awareness.
  • Studies on language acquisition include deaf children inventing sign language when deprived of external language input, highlighting the critical period for language development.
  • Critical periods exist for various capacities, such as language acquisition, with examples like the difficulty adults face in learning a second language compared to infants' reflexive learning.
  • Case studies like Genie and Helen Keller demonstrate the impact of early language deprivation on language acquisition, with successful language learning often linked to losing sight and hearing after a critical age.
  • The method of teaching the deafblind through touch, as used by Helen Keller, has shown success in some cases, particularly when sight and hearing loss occurs before a critical age.
  • The linearization problem in linguistics, exploring how structured systems map into linear systems, has become a recent focus, challenging previous notions of language as just a collection of expressions without deeper meaning.
  • Questions on semantic interpretation and causal relations between the world and representations have emerged, prompting a shift towards informational semantics and exploring new ways to understand language and meaning.

01:03:49

Psychic Continuity Shapes Mental Representation Understanding

  • Mental representation doesn't require physical representation.
  • The concept of psychic continuity is crucial in understanding how we perceive objects and concepts.
  • Locke and Hume in the 17th century understood that our concept of objects is not solely based on physical properties.
  • Fairy tales and children's understanding are examples of how concepts like personhood are based on psychic continuity.
  • Language lacks a direct relationship between words and mind-independent entities, challenging traditional notions of reference and denotation.
  • The Ship of Theseus conundrum highlights the limitations of our cognitive systems in dealing with questions about identity and reference.
  • Communication involves interpreting intentions rather than just literal meanings, influenced by shared beliefs and background assumptions.
  • Communication is a complex social action that goes beyond the literal meaning of expressions.
  • Modularity of mind involves the distinction between modular processing systems and unstructured central systems.
  • Commonalities in human societies, such as language, music, dance, and arithmetic, suggest innate cognitive capacities beyond language.

01:24:49

"Origins of Language and Thought in Humans"

  • Australian Aboriginal groups have unique ways of expressing concepts, such as using "blood" to refer to arithmetic.
  • Evolutionary theories by Darwin and Wallace were puzzled by the universal capacity for arithmetic in humans, despite lack of selection for it.
  • Arithmetic may have evolved by piggybacking on existing language design and computational principles.
  • Music's basic properties may mirror linguistic systems, suggesting a potential connection.
  • Dance's origins and relation to other cognitive systems remain intriguing questions.
  • The origins of language, thought, and their interdependence pose complex challenges for study.
  • Understanding thought independent of language is crucial but challenging due to lack of a clear theory.
  • Introspection into complex mental processes like language and thought is limited, requiring external study methods.
  • The shift in scientific understanding from seeking an intelligible world to developing intelligible theories has significant implications.
  • Different systems of understanding, like common sense and scientific inquiry, can lead to contradictions and require distinct approaches for coherence.

01:46:14

"English vs Science: Importance of Reference"

  • Water derives its meaning from English, while H2O's meaning is rooted in chemistry, emphasizing the importance of reference in science. English lacks a structured system like science, which aims to have clear reference points, as highlighted during a session with Professor Chomsky. The session concluded with gratitude towards Professor Chomsky for his insights, leading to a presentation and expressions of thanks from the group, showcasing the appreciation for the treasures in the Academy related to natural philosophy and chemistry.
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