Can Math be considered a language? | Amelie de Oliveira Bruce | TEDxYouth@ESBRiodeJaneiro

Summary

The speaker humorously asserts that math is a language, as it's a universal system of communication used by the global community. They trace the evolution of language from early human grunts to modern dialects, influenced by geographical and cultural shifts. Drawing parallels, they note how math, too, has developed with civilizations, with different numeral systems across ancient cultures. The speaker also highlights the practical use of math in daily life, its symbolic translation, and its potential for interstellar communication. Concluding with a personal anecdote about the universality of math, they affirm their math teacher's view that math is indeed a language.

Takeaways

• 😀 Math can be considered a language because it is a form of communication used by a global community, both written and orally.
• 🌐 Language evolved from simple grunts and sign language to complex systems used worldwide, adapting to different cultures and environments.
• 🏰 Historical events, such as England's colonial past, influenced the spread and dominance of languages like English.
• 🌏 Just as languages diversified due to geographical and cultural separation, so too did mathematical systems across ancient civilizations.
• 📚 Ancient civilizations like the Romans, Babylonians, and Egyptians had unique ways of representing numbers, reflecting their cultural context.
• 🔢 Math, like language, has become more sophisticated over time, developing operations and applications in various fields.
• 🛒 Math is used in everyday life for practical purposes like calculating taxes, measuring dimensions, and managing finances.
• 🔠 Mathematical symbols, such as equals, less than, and greater than, can be translated into words, similar to how languages translate concepts.
• 🚀 Scientists have attempted to communicate with extraterrestrial life using math, suggesting its potential as a universal language.
• 🌟 The speaker's personal experience in France highlights how math can be a unifying language, transcending linguistic barriers.

Q & A

What does the math teacher from the transcript believe about mathematics?

The math teacher believes that mathematics is a language because it is a form of communication used by a community, just like spoken languages.

How does the speaker compare the development of language to mathematics?

The speaker compares the development of language and mathematics by noting that both have evolved with humans over time, starting from basic communication methods and becoming more sophisticated.

Why does the speaker think that not everyone in the world speaks the same language?

The speaker suggests that different groups of people separated and migrated, adapting their languages to their new environments and cultures, which led to the development of various languages.

What role did historical events play in the spread of certain languages, according to the transcript?

Historical events, such as England's colonization and the conquest of Brazil by Portugal, played a significant role in spreading English and Portuguese, respectively.

How does the speaker describe the adaptation of language to culture?

The speaker describes the adaptation of language to culture by explaining how the Portuguese language evolved differently in Brazil compared to Portugal due to cultural influences.

What is an example of how mathematics was used by ancient civilizations mentioned in the transcript?

Ancient Romans used letters like 'X', 'V', and 'I' to represent numbers, Babylonians used cuneiform to represent numbers, and ancient Egyptians used household items to symbolize numbers.

Why does the speaker believe that mathematics can be considered a language?

The speaker believes mathematics can be considered a language because it is a system of symbols and rules that can be used to communicate information, similar to spoken languages.

How does the speaker illustrate the practical use of mathematics in everyday life?

The speaker gives examples such as calculating taxes at a supermarket, measuring dimensions for furniture, and using mathematical symbols like equals, less than, and greater than.

What is the significance of the message inscribed on a spacecraft mentioned in the transcript?

The message inscribed on a spacecraft in the form of mathematics signifies an attempt to communicate with potential extraterrestrial life, suggesting that if humans could discover this logical language, other beings might have as well.

What is the speaker's personal experience that supports the idea that mathematics is a universal language?

The speaker's personal experience of living in France and finding that the mathematical language was similar to that in Brazil, despite not being fluent in French, supports the idea that mathematics is a universal language.