Mark Pagel: How language transformed humanity

[@somethingforyou345]

crying here bc i need to write a summary to this due in 40 minutes

[@thp8485]

😂😂😂😂 hope you got it in on time

[@xxZazaLyrics]

FEEL YOU

[@_maybeSilver]

GODAMN SAME

[@c_x_n9574]

Are you at the FU Berlin??? :D

[@tommarks6379]

@@c_x_n9574 YES ^^

[@lindseyrae8598]

Who else only watched this for school?

[@martikins]

Lindsey R Hahahahaha me! And i'm From mexico xD

[@barbaracarap21]

Omg meee

[@kathalenakrause6150]

for uni over here in germany, yay

[@eddy34030]

same; FU Berlin? @@kathalenakrause6150

[@notme-xz4yz]

Me UwU for geography...

[@skazzaks1]

Agree. Not only do I agree with you that multiple languages are NOT the barrier to solving the worlds problems, but I also take issue with the fact that these kinds of talk presuppose that the goals of humanity should be infinite "progress". I used to hold the view that there should be one language, ...until I started learning them. Learning other languages has been the most invigorating and eye-opening time of my life. There are perspectives that cannot be translated.

[@P00P0STER0US]

This is one of the most pleasantly-delivered TED talks I've seen.

[@therealgreengoblin]

man rly explained why we screenshot NFTs

[@AnaLombaLanguages]

Excellent presentation and great questions about the future of languages and humanity itself. It may well be that it is not one language that prevails at the end, but a handful. It would be interesting to see why - what characteristics of this/those languages make them prevail. I do hope that some linguistic and ethnic diversity remains, as there is something about learning languages and reaching out to others who are not like ourselves that keeps the wonder and makes us grow as humans.

[@kijekuyo9494]

I would answer that it doesn't appear that the characteristics of a language determines it's spread but, as seen in the history of ancient Greek, the Latin of of the Romans, and the English of the British Empire, and maybe the failure of Esperanto, that language use spreads by the culture that carries it. It may turn out that we end up with a single language with an expansive number of dialects only barely mutually intelligible. These dialects can carry an infinite amount of cultural diversity.

[@simabah]

When communicating internationally there should be a unified and shared language. However, each language has it's own people behind it. The beauty of diverse literature, poetry and music is closely tied to the flow of the sounds and feelings of that unique culture. Languages that do not stay connected with their time/people are eventually abandoned/forgotten. Only those languages that stay vibrant and alive are the ones that can support the human evolutionary process anyway.

[@RDJim]

I listen with interest and race to the back button before the TED extro chord shocks me from my bliss.

[@foreverxundefined]

I think its really cool that everything this man just I have thought about for a couple of years now. From trying to understand language is, the correlation of language and the rise of civilizations, the use of one language. I believe that we are heading towards an inevitable reality where words can be more than just an cognitive audio process. Maybe someday we will not HAVE to speak but instead just think and feel conversation and ideas.

[@terryjross]

This is amazing stuff. If I had a suggestion about how to improve the talk, I think Mark sounds a little 'absolute' in dismissing the of ability of animals to 'learn'. That leads to reactions focusing on the visual theft that CAN occur in non-human species. If Mark's tone was more along the lines of 'many animals can visually learn...but the human species is at a completely different level of sophistication in this domain' then many members of his audience would be more receptive.

[@shampoovta]

Best and hardest job I ever had was teaching 7 year old Deaf or Hard of Hearing kids "Noun" and "Noun Verb" The "Noun Verb Noun" One young lady who previously had to gab and grunt and hit to get what she wanted lit up like a bulb. When she understood what this could do for her she would grab the cards from me and WANT to do it again to get it right. I was blessed to have that moment and see languages true power. Oh and I am not a teacher. I am a proud rent a mom!

[@edgrimshaw3835]

One of the best TED talks ever... at least for a high school language teacher.

[@Music4Evert]

Evolving to have just one language, is like having thousands of paths of evolution and choose just one. I think we should evolve to have only one thing in common: respect and empathy for every fellow human being on Earth; the common language of understanding and reason in our nature but without disposing the precious languages around the world and the points of view that they gather. We have to stop seeing reality in a black & white, good or bad fashion. That's the next step in our evolution.

[@lloydloveday4501]

You are correct, well done in learning new languages. However, his point was that humans are currently on an evolutionary path that may lead to one dominant language...a path that would take a long time, and one that we may diverge from for other reasons. He never mentions 'progress', but change is constant and inevitable. 2000 years from all currently spoken languages will have changed.

[@8viluma8]

The fact that you are not able to speak or write doesn't mean you don't have language. Everyone is born with language. If animals or plants didn't have language, they wouldn't be able to coexist.

[@bvenvi]

Languages are not just a communication tool, those are the very well adapted mode of communications suited for each ecotypes.

[@JoeCarterTheWisdomOfLife]

My guess would the roots of the advantage we have is centered on language and a eusocial relationship structure in our species. I think E.O Wilson has a fair point about the similarities between ants and humans, and the fact that both have colonized the world, adapting to many varieties of climates and environmental factors. We, like other eusocial creatures, have the capacity to socially orient around such things cooperative brood care, including offspring from other persons, we also have overlapping generations and a division of roles among us. These differentiated roles enable specialized behavioral groups to dovetail each others efforts into something more than the sum their parts. In developing a eusocial structure along with language skills, it unlocked the same kind of quantum adaptive diversity leap that eukaryotic cells did over prokaryotes in biological evolution.

[@TheFringeBenefit1]

That brings up a very good question: what do we value more prosperity or heritage?

[@Hallibutbouy]

Science finds a description of things which works under particular circumstances using extremely rigorous, detailed and often novel methods of observation. That is the best way to get descriptions that work. The descriptions are formulated in terms which intentionally abstract from the observer. This doesn't mean that the same phenomena can't be observed in different ways, by people operating with different concepts and a different story be told which still fits for the different purposes.

[@Hallibutbouy]

The most pure example of a theory that uses the status quo to create an account of history.

[@dlld77]

@mikesomething yeah as a first language Chinese is the most spoken, but english is by faaaar more spoken and understood, which is why it would be natural for it to be the "one" language and I have had the same thoughts for a while, different languages are just unnecessary barriers.

[@P00P0STER0US]

I encourage you to look at International Auxiliary Languages. These are (usually) constructed languages intended to promote and ease communication among people of varied language backgrounds. It would be folly to replace the many languages with one, but it would be folly to fail to adopt one regular, designed language to serve as a medium of communication. As a simple example, Esperanto is already used as a reference language in translation.

[@Truthiness231]

@winterstellar No resources are needed, I concur with you that dogs are not self-aware (that resource I sent you said that). The point is (and if you google it this exact same confusion has been corrected multiple times before): being self-conscious/aware is defined as "aware of yourself as an individual or of your own being and actions and thoughts", whereas we're talking about being conscious: "Aware of and responding to one's surroundings; awake" (whether one has a "concept of self" or not).

[@iceproofcomet]

This Talk as flawed. Now while I will say that it was given 5 years ago that does not excuse that fact that there have been multiple studies going on about how many different species or animals do in fact have language. For instance there was Alex the African Grey Parrot who had amassed a vocabulary of 150 words and could distinguish between objects that were small, large and could count to 6. There is also Rico, a border collie who could recognize over 200 different labels. Even if given a new label he could infer that an unknown word would be referring to the new label and he would remember this association. Moving on there are studies that show that species such as Bees, Horses, and Even Trees have their own language that, while it may not be as sophisticated as the human language is still considered to be language. Sauce: www.bbc.com/future/story/20121016-is-language-unique-to-humans www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden-internet

[@celinak5062]

iceproofcomet +

[@deselby9448]

Linguists have a specific definition for the word language. To linguists vocabulary is not language. Grammar is language (see Susan Curtiss's definition of language which is supported by professional linguists). The grey parrot you refer to may have amassed a vocabulary of 150 words but the parrot would have no comprehension of grammar and accordingly no fluency of language. Genie Wiley learned the meanings of hundreds of words but never achieved fluency at language because she was unable to learn grammar. Vocabulary without grammar = no language. Vocabulary without grammar is just words. Vocabulary without grammar prevents you from talking about the past or the future or extremes. Vocabulary without grammar is a primitive communication system and simple information can be conveyed but it is not a language. At least not according to professional linguists.

[@erozionzeall6371]

Exactly. There're not as complicated as human language.

[@jamiethompson5153]

I did his module on my degree, and I am using his methods to study atm, he knows all this he publishes papers on animal communication. But this is specifically about humans

[@P00P0STER0US]

One advantage of language I don't think he really put forth is the idea that groups of people can discuss options to find a best solution to a problem, rather than requiring demonstration of each option. The idea of cooperation was clear, but the idea of cooperation and planning on complex and time-consuming activities, plans or designs was not really mentioned.

[@NicenEasyuk]

I agree with you sir. Mark Pagel raises intruiging thoughts indeed but you can see language and the bare bones of evolution eternally connected. Frogs 'ribbit', birds have unique tweets and even crickets churp. The further up the ladder you climb animals develop more complex voices, a lions pur and roar for example. They may be simple but the more complex the pallet the more the vocal ability multiplies. Red and yellow can only make shades of orange until you add blue. We, happen to have blue.

[@PixelSlayer247]

Actually, the Tower of Babel story in the Bible is the one above all others that actually ticks me off the most, and even when I believed, I remember thinking that made 'god' quite the prick, and not worthy of worship. "Humans working together and being able to understand each other would give them too much potential and happiness, can't have that, now!"

[@Chelsea_Sphere]

I have heard evidence to the contrary on social learning in animals, like the "100th monkey" experiment where one monkey on a remote island began washing their sweet potato before eating it and then a year later almost every monkey on that island was also washing their potato before eating it and then another year or two later, monkeys on another separate island that had made no contact whatsoever with the monkeys from the first island also began washing their potatoes before eating them.

[@kaarenremley7585]

hmmm- It's interesting but unnecessarily dismissive of other species' ability to communicate & work together- for example crows.... Plus not all humans are reasonable in their communications else we wouldn't have so many wars...

[@fos8789]

Even a war is an amazing work of cooperation, that animals are not capable of doing, at least not in our scale

[@milekrizman]

Some 'cultures' are basically warlike. Serbians and Montenegrins come to my mind.

[@SecondSight]

@aerobique ok, but i was talking about language. any kind of interaction between anything can communication by your definition, and of course we need some kind of connection to even exist. but if we're talking about spoken and written language with symbols like the speaker is here, then i think my point still stands. we can learn things without using words, and i dont think they are the only reason we evolved beyond other animals

[@dudepal187]

@carlosjhr64 I think he clarified that when he said "monkey see, monkey (almost cannot) do." The ability for humans to communicate and exchange is much greater than any other animal. Animals like dogs and dolphins can be trained, but they can't communicate and innovate upon ideas like we do. Thats what he meant. It is exactly what Matt Ridley (the man who asked a question at the end) wrote about in his newest book: The Rational Optimist.

[@Gjerda]

I don't understand why people dislike these videos

[@fuunguus]

@SinisterElements I think a lot of our modern civilization comes from when Europe started communicating between each other and work for bigger goals like exploration rather than fighting between each other over territories. Still it wasn't perfect, but it was a start and science and research got a boost.

[@LudicrousTachyon]

In his talk he made inadvertently made a good case for ignoring copyright and patent.

[@smoothbanana]

@adamkoncz 1) I don't think forgetting one's native language is the point. We are heading towards more efficient communication and future generations should all be fluent in the "master" language. 2) Some multicultural societies aren't exactly multi-lingual. 3) Rainy Sundays are horrible.

[@shiftyjake]

@SickBang That's pretty much what we've been doing for most of our history. Europe used to be like his description of New Guinea, with a plethora of languages (until gov's made an effort to stamp out dialects). At that time, Latin was the continent-wide second language, and the system worked well enough for the Renaissance to take place. Later it was French. Today it's English. Who knows what the next one will be. Maybe Mandarin?

[@jess522]

How did we aquire social learning? I assume it would take social learning to aquire social learning?

[@momentary_]

@Truthiness231 One might consider the ideas you use to imagine something to be a language. For example, when you imagine a scene or an object, you are thinking about the idea of a scene or an object before you imagine it. That idea is a language. It's impossible to imagine anything without the idea (language) of it first.

[@smoothbanana]

Technology has advanced considerably in the last few years owing to worldwide cooperation, criticism and computers. Language is of paramount importance. One world, one language would be efficient, but we would lose much of what makes us uniquely human (e.g. creative self-expression). English isn't necessarily the "best" language, but you have to give it credit - even the most bastardised and accented sentences still somehow make sense, which cannot be said for virtually every other language...

[@dudepal187]

@carlosjhr64 Like I said, rare or highly trained. Crows, chimps, and octopi are able to "innovate" solutions, but they cannot exchange and expand upon each others' ideas. Thats what is meant by "no animal innovates like we do." Our ancestors did the same thing for millions of years and now a change has occurred that allows us to innovate and solve significantly faster and more efficient than before. None of this is preconceived or assumed, it's observed reality. Our success lies in exchange.

[@PipelinerCRM]

One lanquage to rule them all. Interesting about the cultural (social) learning. And how internet enabled "visual theft" in form of copyright is astounding. Everybody benefits.

[@StopFear]

@SaintBeatStudios Yea, I agree with you, if you acknowledge that the best way to start it now is to teach English to everyone all over the world. That would be most practical since it is already everywhere, so inventing another one is a waste of time. I am a native Russian speaker but speak English fluently and I'd hate to see more Russian language in the world. It is unnecessarily complex, but English is more flexible.

[@elchafa337]

@elchafa What I mean by all that is that, in the case of humanity adopting one language, we should be wary not to lose concepts along with some languages.

[@TasteOfGreen]

@georgemargaris It was pertinent to the talk, he was illustrating that even early humans understood the power of language. I think scientists have the right to quote anything they please if it aids in the explanation of science.

[@foreverxundefined]

The brain is an amazing template, but our current technological advancements are just some indicators on what can be achieved in the near future. Maybe we will reach a point where we can plant chips in our brains to optimize the brain chemistry for learning, socializing, or even just living a higher quality of life. Even by thinking this into existence it has the potential to become a reality.

[@carefulcarpenter]

When working in high-end neighborhoods I discovered that there is a subtle language spoken which separates classes-- or should I say, manipulates language to the benefit of those with common understanding. The words were the same, but the intention was not communicated, to the disadvantage of the lower status level worker. Not a pigeon language-- a power and money language. I am college educated, also, so this language is not common to all.

[@FTLNewsFeed]

@mikesomething You're correct - evolution does not have a goal, but you must understand that the mechanism by which evolution happens, natural selection, is driven by competition. There was a TED talk on Flowers posted a bit ago and while some flowers rewarded insects for spreading their pollen, others tricked the insects into doing it for them. Now, if the bees could talk they'd reduce the trickery and force the tricking flowers to compete some other way.

[@halfthishalfthat]

@MrChristianRC I agree with you, this is why I advocate for everyone learning Mandarin.

[@PixelSlayer247]

Maybe with significant enough improvements in social media, personal interface to internet-capable media, and translation software, it won't be nescessary to standardize language; what matters is that we can all understand each other and language is still a finite thing. One day we may interact with people much like we watch foreign movies, reading realtime subtitles, or we could have the Star Trek take where the ship computer automatically translates alien languages and such.

[@MrChristianRC]

I do agree with his ultimate point however. I have always advocated for one universal language, since multiple languages, ultimately (no matter how much ppl love the French language for example, or some similar romance language), really just end up dividing us. Others link language with culture however, in an attempt to argue for the conservation of multiple languages. I guess I just consider practicality more important than culture...

[@jmlynnify]

@kaupaxup The fact that you didn't appreciate it doesnt mean that the talk is not provocatively insightful -- which I think it is. Watch it again and maybe you'll pick up on how some of the observations and thoughts he shares are powerful, especially when you consider the implications attending their discovery and exploration.

[@freakingsunbro8750]

Only watching this for school:(

[@ghostbuddy]

@eleutheromaniac Im not forgetting anything. Theres a big difference between self aware, conscious organisms deliberately deciding to dedicate their own time towards learning a language, likely out of practical utility. And concocting a grandiose scheme, from the top down, towards the same ends. Forcing a education burden, and a financial burden on people, without any of their input. The former is an intelligent evolutionary proccess, the later is an absurdity akin to cultural creationism.

[@adam-k]

Humans evolved very slowly for 200 000 years, basically unchanged until the last 10-20 thousand year (some places unchanged until the last 100 years), they actually lived in small communities. Of course language is important, but there is evidence that alone it is not enough. (ie without agriculture, urbanization etc)

[@mrjasonjneal]

language evolution...... why as a society are we adding the letter "S" to the word "ANYWAY"? .. .. Anyways I was just wondering.

[@NavAK_86]

Far more efficient to make everything plural by a simple letter, than the myriad of distinct combination of plural endings in other languages [especially dead languages]. You'd have the trouble of remembering a plethora of them. We are a species that has a natural impetus for efficacy and simplicity.

[@ghostbuddy]

@SaintBeatStudios I should also mention how incredibly unnessary any deliberate effort towards that goal is. Some languages (madrin, and english for example) are already becoming extremely popular languages. On the other side of the equation, you've probably already conversed with other people that type in other languages, but you don't realize it because of automated translation. Im sure this technology would win out in an opportunity cost analysis over world wide education/culture reform.

[@radwanabu-issa4350]

languages are advanced form of communications, communication among human started as early as tool making 3 million years ago!

[@knasbollolo]

Great talk but crazy loud intro and exit credits, FIX IT TED!

[@winterstellar]

I just saw that the scientists think homo erectus was the first species to develop language, approx 1 million years ago. And they lived on Earth until just 70-50 thousand years ago, so our homo sapiens ancestors could have met them. Imagine that, hearing the language of another hominid species alltogether!: )

[@Radjehuty]

I think the speaker gave a poor reason for why FOXP2 doesn't necessarily mean Neanderthals had language. He could have pointed out that Birds also have the same gene FOXP2...but when damaged, all it does is modify their songs to become more disorganized. But birds don't necessarily have language and you can see that birds don't innovate across generations like we do. So therefore FOXP2 isn't entirely responsible for language.

[@dudepal187]

@carlosjhr64 Innovation is simply unique to us given the structures available in the human brain. No other animal exchanges ideas like we do. That is simply a fact, which is what he is pointing out as an important part of our evolutionary history. Where exactly is your disagreement?

[@aerobique]

@coaxx _ "language did a lot, but we're still able to learn without communicating" communication is everything.. when plant-leaves sense the sun, turn in its direction- its pure communication put a synthesized embrio (human or whatever) /without mother communication, without any "communication") in a ~white, "matrix" like room without influence and communication. It just dies in a couple hours, if not faster. language does a lot, yes.. but "communication" is everything- on every level

[@adam-k]

@Worfox13 Because switching to English is the same as learning English as a second language. Why should anybody forgot his/her native language? If you grow up in a multicultural environment than learning multiple language is not harder than learning one language.

[@shampoovta]

@parkj238 He is not saying animals don't advance for a lack of tool usage or that they don't have a physical language or grunts and posturing. Some primates have even learned ASL but they don't teach it to other primates.

[@momentary_]

Different languages have different memes within them. If we could somehow preserve as many of those memes as possible when switching to one universal language, then I would have no problem with one universal language.

[@TaigiTWeseDiplomat--Formosan]

5:20 But the ape did learn to use the lighter and start the fire without hurting itself...

[@joanbautista]

This Talk Is so damn underrated, Good job

[@FannyPlusvi]

We might become polyglots, I hope, because It would be a pity to loose any language. They are all very interesting.

[@Dixavd]

I don't think one language is the answer - in each language lies an ability to say something and express ideas that other languages simply do not have the capacity to - limiting us to one language forces us to lose a lot of expression and ultimately a lot of creativity given from the diversity on how people think and react because of the way their language built.

[@zaraamir9165]

Watching this while attempting my exam.

[@elchafa337]

Very good talk but I don't agree on the one language theory quite at all, the reason being that each language has an implicit set of values that the society that speaks it holds valuable. That is why some languages can explain a concept in a single word while others need many phrases to explain it and are sometimes not as close to explaining that concept as the 1 word in the other language.

[@DrequimaX]

Any ways English is not my mother tongue, but I had to learn it.... to learn and be co-op with people..... form different countries.....

[@Keytaster]

@appolity Not just some in my opinion. He really has some quirky ideas about culture, anthropology, and language

[@Truthiness231]

@goog2k Actual now you've got me thinking, maybe not everyone is capable of thinking without language, which is why you're so certain it can't be done and I'm positive it can. If you would, please try something for me: close your eyes and try to imagine a new animal or shape or sound, just create something in your head, but try to keep your inner monologue turned off (granted it can be hard), and think about properties this object might have without words. Lemmy know if you can/can't do it ^.^

[@dudepal187]

@carlosjhr64 It is... What other animal innovates like us? The only examples you might be able to use are either extremely rare and isolated or the animals have been extensively trained. Our unique skill of innovation equates to our success. Our brains evolved in a way that allows us to perceive a lot differently than other organisms. They may have similar structures that makes them social animals, but the variations make all the difference. It's not prejudice, it's just fact.

[@ryinski2]

While our language is key in our cataloguing of information so that it can be continuously built upon and refernced I don't see how it could be the most important development of the human intellectual ability. Some people are naturally more perceptive or more inquisitive or are quick to spot patterns or similiarities in things that other might not notice etc. and that couldn't have anything to do with social learning yet is clearly very important. Anthropology is too quasi science for my tastes.

[@SimbaKaizen]

here is probably the only place that you can find smart people in KZbin

[@TheMorpholog]

Sorry Mr. Pagel, your last sentence have a big lack of global perspective. I really don´t agree with your dilema, "one world, one language". I speak four languages and learning languages I realize that one of the most interesting richess of human been is the cultural diversity. One classical exemple is the word "saudade", in portuguese mean "something" like "miss you", but it´s not exactly "miss someone. Only in portuguese you can really understand the real meaning of this word. Each language reflect the way each society see and understand the world. Each language is a different world.

[@RGVZGM]

Jacque Fresco of the Venus Project recognizes the egocentric language barriers that prevent people from working together for the common good of all people. A resource based economy and the accompanying social design would remove the irrelevant and unnecessary traditions and institutions that stand in the way of a better world for all people.

[@8408Kike]

everyone should speak Esperanto

[@tessellation]

I have to wonder if he was blind when traveling from village to village. As anyone who has been there before or has ever bothered to use the 3d feature on google earth can tell you, Papua new guinea has a ton of forested mountains. You don't just stroll from place to place. Sad that I have to point this out but miles don't just follow flat planes, and most villages there are in the valleys between mountains. Not exactly getting exposure hence the diversity. Still fun talk all the same.

[@Truthiness231]

Oh at 16:25 he gets the math wrong (kinda): he assumes you'd need a translator for each possible language pair (for a direct one-translator communication), making the number huge, when all one would really need is 23, or one translator for every language that has English as primary or secondary language (just speak to your language's translator, he says it in English, and then all the other translators can convey it in whatever their other language is). It doesn't have to be impractical...

[@murilodelmondes]

Just look for Patricia Ryan's talk in TEDx Dubai. That makes much more sense to me. By speaking one single language we would be throwing away tons of accumulated knowledge - and future knowledge as well - and perspectives, which is the big contradiction in this talk since he talks about how we can build upon previous ideas.

[@MrCattlehunter]

@mikesomething Evolution may not have a goal, but it does tend to produce things that outcompete everything else in their environments. I don't know if languages qualify for that, since we can have several at once, but it's pretty clear that it's only practical to have one *global* language, whatever the local ones may be. Currently, it seems English is outcompeting all the others in that area.

[@DigitizedSelf]

@Anonymous302YT If you think about it quite a lot of the TED talks can be summed up fairly briefly; it seems like the unifying concept is presenting the topic beautifully and inspiring rather than in an informative way.

[@pickledcucumber5547]

special thanks to Seçil Hoca...

[@Hallibutbouy]

@happydelicious so tell me after reading that, would these alternative but equally effective descriptions be different realities? For the people who accept them they would be the status quo - should they start fighting now? Besides that, what we are looking for when it comes to our human lives is precisely what science leaves out in its descriptions: subjective experience. And subjective experience is significantly shaped by just such stories about reality, true or not.

[@Truthiness231]

@goog2k Thought (as defined by Wikipedia (yeah, I know... =p)): "Thought" generally refers to any mental or intellectual activity involving an individual's subjective consciousness. It can refer either to the act of thinking or the resulting ideas or arrangements of ideas. Thus, animals think. And thus, languages isn't necessary for thought. I also find it ironic that you were surely gifted with a brain like the vast majority of us and yet you can't use it to think...

[@Dixavd]

@DigitizedSelf 1 example)Here's a study on how language may effect the way people solve tasks even without using linguistic skills in the main task at hand. cogsci[dot]northwestern[dot]edu/cogsci2004/papers/paper575[dot]pdf It shows that even if it was proved that a language was built that could express anything, any emotion , any understanding, any description - merely the act of learning the different patterns would lead ot much more creativity as people will think and resolve differently.

[@modvs1]

His Edge Conversations talk "Infinite Stupidity" is provocative.

[@WhichDoctor1]

@goog2k Sorry to jump into this discussion but are you really saying that if you are confronted with a logical problem like designing a object or mechanism to perform a task that you cannot do it without spoken language? Because I can. And if you dont classify designing a stone tool or the mechanism of a gun as thinking but rather "consciousness" then your getting rite into semantics.

[@carefulcarpenter]

"Genius creates; others imitate" ~~cc

[@AymericCostaReal]

Every genius start by imitating

[@carefulcarpenter]

@@AymericCostaReal Where do epiphanies come from?

[@AymericCostaReal]

@@carefulcarpenter Decades of work, a neverending curiosity and an incredible amount of love for your field

[@carefulcarpenter]

@@AymericCostaReal I made a significant moral decision at age 8. It took most of my classmates decades. When did you become aware of that still small voice? N85456.

[@AymericCostaReal]

@@carefulcarpenter 15 or 16

[@serialcomplexity]

@DebtRich Although I agree with you on the first two points. However it wouldn't be a linguistic prison if the vast knowledge of those languages and cultures are accurately translated into whatever predominant language is agreed upon. Engligh or otherwise. One common language would lead to a common mix of cultures, eventually, though I would have to admit whichever language is agreed upon would probably be the predominant culture throughout society.

[@Prophiscient]

@IC1101 - "Its not about 'BC'... its about the fact that all non-Christians are being discriminated this way. " Oh dear, are we being "discriminated"? I'm a complete atheist but actually I am already annoyed by those "policitally correct" clowns who feel the need to use BCE and CE, because I couldn't care less about such things. As I wrote before, Friday is still named after Freya and March is still named after Mars, but apparently that never bothered Christians for 2000 years, so who cares?

[@Dixavd]

I liked the talk but the description of "visual theft" annoys me; theft is when someone gains while the other loses (literally taking something from someone else) - in the way he described it the original people are not losing their knowledge, the others are just gettting it without the work the first had to do int he first place. It isn't theft. I don't care about grammar and spelling but it annoys me when a word i used that changes the meaning of the idea tried to be said. No big deal though.

[@TheWdayton]

While diversity in language is often synonymous with diversity of culture (and even thought), I think it is likely that English will become the "universal language". The U.S. economy and military dominate the planet in a way that no other culture is likely to duplicate within the time frame of the adoption of a universal language. I hope the other cultures will be able to maintain their identity going forward.

[@antoshahorosha]

Language is encryption. Brilliant.

[@dudepal187]

@carlosjhr64 He may not be the best speaker when it comes to this topic, but maybe it's just because I've read Matt Ridley's book that I see what he is trying to say. He is merely saying that language contributes to our ability to exchange. Anyways, I don't know what you're talking about now.

[@esperantoasocio]

Unfortunate that there is no mention of Esperanto here. This language aims to be a common language. Not a single language dominant language. Big difference !!

[@CantWeedThis]

@goog2k i dont think in language, theres no need to unless you plan on communicating the thoughts.