Exploring the Interplay Between Language and Human Thought
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Chapter 1: The Nature of Language
Language is an inherent instinct that compels us to express ourselves. But what if we were to consider a scenario where we could no longer think or articulate thoughts in words?
‘Words are uttered, but fail to enlighten.’ - Aldous Huxley
In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, a fictional totalitarian regime enforced a language stripped of words and grammatical structures. The core idea is clear: thoughts arise from words; eliminating words erases thoughts.
What if we took this dystopian idea to its extreme and completely removed words from our minds? Would any thoughts remain? Long before the rise of modern linguistics, Charles Darwin posited that language is essential for complex reasoning. He argued that “a complex train of thought cannot be conducted without the aid of words, whether spoken or silent, just as long calculations require figures or algebra.”
However, could it be that Darwin attributed too much importance to language? Might we possess distinct cognitive capabilities that are non-verbal and unconscious? A fruitful way to explore these questions is to examine human behavior when the brain's language processing regions are inactive. How do individuals navigate their world in such states?
Section 1.1: The Case of Brother John
What can an inarticulate mind accomplish? In a paper published in 1980, Andre Roch Lecours and Yves Joanette studied a 50-year-old Canadian monk, known as Brother John, who experienced seizures that temporarily disabled his language processing abilities, leaving him unable to speak, read, or think in words. Remarkably, during these episodes of total aphasia, Brother John remained fully conscious and engaged with his environment.
One day, while traveling to an unfamiliar Swiss town, Brother John suffered an epileptic seizure and became aphasic upon arrival. Despite his loss of language, he adeptly navigated the train station using non-verbal cues. After successfully presenting his ticket, locating his luggage, and exiting the station, he attempted to communicate his needs at a hotel through gestures, though the staff did not respond favorably. Undeterred, he found another hotel where the staff was more accommodating. Unable to read the menu, he pointed to a dish, regardless of whether it appealed to him, and then retired to his room, regaining his language abilities by morning.
During his aphasic state, Brother John may have lost his ability to think verbally, yet he retained his cognitive faculties. He could still recognize objects, navigate spaces, evaluate situations, and remember detailed events from his experience. His loss of language did not disrupt his awareness or coherent thought process. He described it as a challenge in finding words, but he was still capable of complex reasoning, inference, and reflection. The absence of language resembled losing a sensory modality; like individuals who are blind or deaf, Brother John adapted to his circumstances with resourcefulness.
The first video titled "Noam Chomsky - Thought Without Language" delves into the intricate relationship between thought and language, shedding light on how language shapes our cognitive processes.
Section 1.2: The Role of Unconscious Cognition
Language can act as a high-level interface that obscures the complex processing occurring beneath it. We often mistakenly assume that our verbalizations are the source of our thoughts, when in reality, they merely represent a component of our consciousness. Research indicates that intricate thought is built upon non-verbal, often unconscious foundations.
In the early 1980s, Benjamin Libet conducted a groundbreaking experiment to investigate the dynamics of conscious and unconscious decision-making. Participants were instructed to move their hand at will and then pinpoint the exact moment they felt the urge. Libet's findings revealed that brain activity could predict movements several hundred milliseconds before participants reported their decisions, suggesting that conscious intentions might not dictate actions as previously thought. This raised questions about the existence of free will.
Libet's results imply that unconscious processes drive our behaviors. If we accept that our actions are largely automated, it raises the question of who or what is at the helm of our decisions. There may be a part of our unconscious guiding our actions, while our conscious mind believes it is in control. However, our experiences often indicate that many cognitive processes are either non-verbal, unconscious, or a combination of both.
In the second video "The language system in the human mind and brain (Dr. Ev Fedorenko)," the intricate systems that underpin our ability to process language and thought are explored, revealing the connections between cognition and neural architecture.
Chapter 2: The Evolution of Intelligence
Different species exhibit a range of communication strategies within their brains and their interactions with the world. Philosopher Daniel Dennett proposed an evolutionary hierarchy of intelligent behavior, starting with instinctual actions at the base and progressing to complex decision-making processes at the top.
As we ascend the pyramid, we encounter species with adaptable brain structures capable of learning from mistakes and modifying their behaviors. This adaptability provides them with an advantage in changing environments, but it also carries risks when their trial-and-error methods lead to detrimental outcomes.
At higher levels, certain organisms have developed the ability to simulate potential future scenarios within their minds. This mental space allows them to predict outcomes based on prior experiences, ultimately guiding their behaviors without necessitating physical trial and error.
Humans, too, possess this ability, but our language capacity enriches our internal representations of the world. We can convey and share complex ideas, failures, and insights, allowing us to build on the knowledge accumulated across generations. This interconnectedness makes our cognitive processes a part of a broader global network, enhancing our collective intelligence.
Final Thoughts
During the transatlantic slave trade, enslaved Africans, speaking diverse languages, created a simplified pidgin to communicate, which evolved into creole languages as their children learned it. This linguistic adaptation showcases our innate drive to communicate and think using words.
Language serves as a vital tool for organizing thoughts and enhancing our creative capabilities. Yet, it should not overshadow the silent workings of our unconscious mind. While we often believe we operate solely on a conscious level, much of our decision-making and complex task execution occurs unconsciously. Ultimately, the interplay between our conscious and unconscious minds may be more intricate than we understand today.