Tailoring pattern-recognition should be easier for a word than for a concept. Then future AI will be able to interpret thoughs of those who think in words because these "words" are common cross many people unline concept-thinking.
Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
391–400 of 404 posts
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#392My view of the centrality of language in the process of sustained complex thought is strongly influenced by the memoir of Helen Keller we discussed last month [1].
While it is possible to think about quantities of things without mathematics, you can't engineer systems to get men on the moon without it, nor language.
[1] https://scentofdawn.blogspot.com/2011/07/before-soul-dawn-he...
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#393There are many that would strongly object to this conclusion. I have heard friends describe their inner life as almost entirely verbal, that they "think in words", and are totally unable to relate to anything else. When we say "communication", I think there is an implication that the goal is communication with others. But there is also value in communication with oneself. To verbalize is to condense ones thoughts int…
I think in words. There is always an internal dialogue. Even when doing music, or painting, I'm always anticipating what's next by some words; here comes the bridge, goes to Am now, gonna paint leaves in this shape, or maybe this other. I can visualize things and sounds, but words are always involved. That's probably why I'm not very talented at music or painting.
The thing is: I'm fairly confident my subconsciousness is the actual thinking part and my consciousness is kinda dumb if that makes sense. The part of my brain that does think in words is pretty slow and gets a lot of information from the "processor" behind without actually realizing it.
I visualize it as the 2 man start up where there one tech guy and one who sells it outwards.
I'm not sure where the science is in that...
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#394This article raises an interesting point, but I think it may oversimplify the relationship between language and thinking. While the authors provide some convincing arguments, we should not ignore the role of language in internal thought processes.
Many people, including myself, often organize and sort out their thoughts through internal dialogue. This "self-communication" may not be external communication in the traditional sense, but it does help us structure and refine ideas. Language provides a way to structure our thoughts, allowing us to examine our ideas more clearly.
In addition, certain complex abstract concepts may be difficult to form without language. While basic cognitive processes may not rely on language, high-level thinking - especially in fields such as philosophy and science - is often closely linked to language.
I agree that language is a powerful communication tool, but I think it is also a thinking tool. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that language serves both communication and thinking, and the two are not mutually exclusive.
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#395I do not have an internal monologue, unless I intend to. I also frequently don’t even have thoughts unless I intend to, but that I’ll admit comes from several years of meditation. When I tell people I’m not thinking about anything, or that I even have the ability to not think about anything, they act shocked and confused. When I say “hold on, I have to translate my thought into English first,” they’re usually accommodating but I can tell from the looks I get that that’s not something everybody does.
It does however put into perspective a number of arguments I have day to day and online, and the simple fact that most of them are over semantics, definitions, miscommunications, and misunderstandings. I frequently wonder what it would be like to have an argument with someone where you both perfectly understand each other, and are just debating the merits of your ideas and not just how they’re presented.
I feel like a lot of people in the world equivocate language with meaning itself, with no abstraction behind the words and letters. That’s why sometimes if you tell someone they’re using a word wrong they’ll take it personally, as if you told them their very being was wrong. Well, if the externalized word is the only avenue you have for internal understanding, how can it be any other way?
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#396I'm bilingual, people keep asking me what language I think 'in', and I don't think I think _in_ a language. For lack of a better way of describing it, I rather think in concepts, sometimes the voice in my head likes to play along by imagining the words representing those concepts, sometimes in English, sometimes in Romanian, but the words are not necessary. In dev words, I guess I think in structs and then optionally…
I speak three languages (none of them fictional, fortunately) and I've found thinking or expressing certain concepts come easier in one of them vs. the other two.
My only interest in becoming polylingual would be to compare these "thought structures" among them, first hand.
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#397I'm bilingual, people keep asking me what language I think 'in', and I don't think I think _in_ a language. For lack of a better way of describing it, I rather think in concepts, sometimes the voice in my head likes to play along by imagining the words representing those concepts, sometimes in English, sometimes in Romanian, but the words are not necessary. In dev words, I guess I think in structs and then optionally…
I'm bilingual (having learned English relatively late - in school), and i think in both languages. I think my mind language depends on which one I'm immersed currently (work/browsing internet: English, real life meetings: my native one). I have very long internal monologues in both languages picked unconsciously/randomly, and sometimes switching. Another fun quirk is sometimes I remember that I've read a sentence, I…
The mind prioritizes information over where it obtained that information. It's a frequent cause of accidental plagiarism.
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#398Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think in words. There is always an internal dialogue. Even when doing music, or painting, I'm always anticipating what's next by some words; here comes the bridge, goes to Am now, gonna paint leaves in this shape, or maybe this other. I can visualize things and sounds, but words are always involved. That's probably why I'm not very talented at music or painting.
The thing is: I'm fairly confident my subconsciousness is the actual thinking part and my consciousness is kinda dumb if that makes sense. The part of my brain that does think in words is pretty slow and gets a lot of information from the "processor" behind without actually realizing it. I visualize it as the 2 man start up where there one tech guy and one who sells it outwards. I'm not sure where the science is in t…
CGP Grey had a video essay that might resonate with you “You Are Two”: https://youtu.be/wfYbgdo8e-8
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#399Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think in words. There is always an internal dialogue. Even when doing music, or painting, I'm always anticipating what's next by some words; here comes the bridge, goes to Am now, gonna paint leaves in this shape, or maybe this other. I can visualize things and sounds, but words are always involved. That's probably why I'm not very talented at music or painting.
The thing is: I'm fairly confident my subconsciousness is the actual thinking part and my consciousness is kinda dumb if that makes sense. The part of my brain that does think in words is pretty slow and gets a lot of information from the "processor" behind without actually realizing it. I visualize it as the 2 man start up where there one tech guy and one who sells it outwards. I'm not sure where the science is in t…
Seems like you kinda described this book! (Really interesting book!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow
Re: Language is primarily a tool for communication rather than thought [pdf]
#400 Nice implicit metrics y'all got there, would be a shame if anything happened to 'em