Understanding Linguistics | Noam Chomsky | Talks at Google

Talks at Google・2 minutes read

John Orwant introduces Noam Chomsky and his achievements, highlighting tenure as a protection for professors to speak out against power systems like the internet's potential for positive and negative uses by the NSA and commercial institutions. Chomsky delves into linguistics, challenging traditional views on language and the importance of language preservation for cultural wealth, diversity, and understanding the world, emphasizing the role of theoretical insights in sciences and progress through activism and societal justice efforts.

Insights

  • Tenure was established to protect professors from external pressures during the McCarthy era, but Noam Chomsky suggests it should come with an obligation to speak truth to power, challenging the notion of entitlement typically associated with tenure.
  • Language is viewed by Chomsky not just as a means of communication but primarily as a system of thought, with conflicts between communicative efficiency and language design, challenging traditional views in philosophy and linguistics and emphasizing the importance of preserving linguistic diversity for cultural wealth and identity.

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Recent questions

  • What is tenure?

    Tenure is a protection for professors from being fired, originating during the McCarthy era to shield academics from loyalty oaths and external pressures. It is typically seen as an entitlement, but Noam Chomsky suggests that it should come with an obligation to speak truth to power.

  • How does Chomsky view the internet?

    Chomsky views the internet as a research tool and activist platform with potential for positive and negative uses by power systems like the NSA and commercial institutions. He emphasizes the need to use it effectively to bring awareness to hidden truths and break through silence and domination.

  • What are Chomsky's insights on language?

    Chomsky challenges common beliefs about language, suggesting it evolved primarily as a system of thought rather than communication. He argues that language's meaningful elements do not necessarily correspond to entities in the external world, challenging traditional views in philosophy and linguistics.

  • Why is language preservation important?

    Language preservation is crucial for maintaining cultural traditions, understanding the world, and reviving endangered languages like Wampanoag to revitalize communities and histories. Efforts to protect indigenous languages, like those of Ken Hale, emphasize the importance of linguistic diversity.

  • How does statistical analysis relate to language understanding?

    Research in statistical natural language processing has evolved, showing limitations in detecting words solely based on transitional probabilities. Adding linguistic principles and prosodic structure improves accuracy in identifying words in connected text, but theoretical insights and experimental knowledge are crucial for true understanding in sciences and language.

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Summary

00:00

Chomsky's Views on Power and Language

  • John Orwant, from the Google Cambridge Tea Party Republicans Club, introduces Noam Chomsky, highlighting his numerous achievements, including 123 books, 7 books written about him, and 38 honorary doctoral degrees.
  • Tenure is discussed as a protection for professors from being fired, originating during the McCarthy era to shield academics from loyalty oaths and external pressures.
  • Despite tenure typically being seen as an entitlement, Chomsky is noted for using it to speak out on popular views, suggesting that tenure should come with an obligation to speak truth to power.
  • Chomsky discusses the internet as a research tool and activist platform, highlighting its potential for both positive and negative uses by power systems like the NSA and commercial institutions.
  • The balance of power regarding the internet is seen as favoring systems of concentrated power, with examples like the US government's efforts to undermine Cuba using social media.
  • Chomsky delves into the history of US-Cuba relations, highlighting the US's control over Guantanamo Bay and drawing parallels to Russia's annexation of Crimea.
  • The power of the internet is emphasized in bringing awareness to hidden truths and breaking through silence, oppression, and domination if used effectively.
  • Chomsky challenges common beliefs about language, suggesting that it evolved primarily as a system of thought rather than communication, with conflicts between communicative efficiency and language design.
  • He argues that language's meaningful elements do not necessarily pick out entities in the external world, challenging the traditional view in philosophy and linguistics.
  • Chomsky's insights from linguistics are seen as having far-reaching consequences, requiring technical examination to understand fully.

16:13

Preserving linguistic diversity and cultural heritage

  • Animal communication systems have a one-to-one correlation between symbols/actions and mind-independent events, unlike linguistic elements.
  • Entities constructed in communication are mental objects that do not directly correspond to natural entities.
  • Language is a core human property, distinct from how it is commonly perceived.
  • Language extinction is a significant concern for preserving cultural wealth and identity.
  • Ken Hale worked extensively to protect indigenous languages, emphasizing the importance of linguistic diversity.
  • Language preservation is crucial for maintaining cultural traditions and understanding the world.
  • Efforts to revive endangered languages, like Wampanoag, can revitalize communities and histories.
  • State borders and policies contribute to the destruction of languages and cultural diversity.
  • Research in statistical natural language processing has evolved, showing limitations in detecting words solely based on transitional probabilities.
  • Adding linguistic principles and prosodic structure improves the accuracy of identifying words in connected text.

32:34

"Balancing statistical analysis with theoretical insights"

  • Statistical analysis can provide a better approximation in certain cases.
  • Discoveries in sciences require theoretical insights, not just statistical analysis.
  • Theoretical insights and experimental knowledge are crucial in understanding systems.
  • Statistical analysis alone does not lead to true understanding in sciences or language.
  • Progress and regression occur simultaneously in history.
  • Significant advancements have been made in societal justice and equality, like women's rights.
  • Opposition to violent aggression has increased over the years.
  • The neoliberal attack on the population has led to economic disparities and political power concentration.
  • The arc of history can be shifted through activism and efforts for progress.
  • Obama's presidency has seen improvements in some areas but regressions in others, like the surveillance programs and global assassination campaigns.

48:59

Legal Advice and Terrorism: A Controversial Connection

  • Humanitarian Law Project was providing legal advice to individuals on the terrorist list
  • Obama's Justice Department condemned this legal advice as material assistance to terrorism
  • Material assistance to terrorism now includes providing legal advice, not just weapons
  • The terrorist list is determined by the executive branch without review or defense
  • Nelson Mandela was on the terrorist list due to opposition to apartheid
  • Saddam Hussein was removed from the terrorist list to provide arms legally
  • The concept of the terrorist list is criticized as an abomination
  • Literacy has a systematic effect on languages, increasing complexity with usage
  • Technology's impact on language, like texting, may add superficiality but unlikely to have a dumbing down effect
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