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Related Concept Videos

Language01:16

Language

Language is a unique communication system that uses words and systematic rules to organize and transmit information. Unlike other forms of communication, which may involve postures, movements, odors, or vocalizations, language relies on symbols and grammar. This makes human communication distinct from that of other species, who also communicate but do not use language in the same way humans do.
Corballis and Suddendorf (2007) and Tomasello and Rakoczy (2003) highlight the role of language in...
Language and Cognition01:27

Language and Cognition

Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
Components of Language01:24

Components of Language

Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs. “eh”). Phonemes combine to...
Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Lateralization01:28

Lateralization

Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

Published on: April 19, 2017

The nature of language.

William L Abler1

  • 1Department of Geology, The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA. wabler@fieldmuseum.com

Science Progress
|December 5, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Sentences and equations share fundamental properties, suggesting sentences derive from symmetrical equations via asymmetry. This challenges traditional language evolution theories based on natural selection.

Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Theoretical Physics

Background:

  • Sentences and mathematical equations exhibit shared structural and logical properties.
  • Existing theories of language evolution often rely on principles of natural selection.
  • The relationship between abstract symbolic systems and biological evolution requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the deep structural similarities between human sentences and mathematical equations.
  • To propose a novel framework for understanding language origins based on mathematical principles.
  • To challenge conventional evolutionary models of language by introducing a non-contingent, self-regulated origin.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of symbolic properties in sentences and equations.

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Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization
05:35

Experience is Instrumental in Tuning a Link Between Language and Cognition: Evidence from 6- to 7- Month-Old Infants' Object Categorization

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Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning
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Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning

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  • Identification of shared characteristics such as discrete infinities, symbol types, recursion, and logical properties.
  • Application of asymmetry transformation to a symmetrical equation model to derive sentence-like structures.

    • Main Results:

    • Sentences and equations share numerous properties, including discrete infinities, distinct symbol types, recursion, and logical operations.
    • Sentences can be theoretically derived from symmetrical equations through a single asymmetry transformation.
    • The self-regulated nature of equations contrasts with the contingency of natural selection, posing challenges for evolutionary language models.

    Conclusions:

    • Language structure may originate from fundamental mathematical or logical principles rather than solely biological evolution.
    • The proposed model offers a new perspective on language origins, emphasizing inherent symbolic system properties.
    • Further research is needed to reconcile this equation-based model with empirical linguistic and evolutionary data.