Noam Chomsky - Communication and Language

Summary

The transcript challenges the common assumption that language and communication are synonymous. It posits that while all behavior communicates, language is often used internally without the need for external expression. The speaker suggests that most language use is for personal reflection rather than social interaction, with only a small fraction dedicated to meaningful communication. The introspective nature of language is highlighted, indicating that internal 'meaning' may exist independently of articulated speech, challenging the viewer to consider the broader role of language beyond mere communication.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script challenges the common assumption that language and communication are synonymous.
• 🤔 It suggests that almost all behaviors, including non-verbal ones, communicate something to others.
• 💭 The speaker argues that much of our internal thought processes, which may not involve language, are also a form of communication with oneself.
• 🔍 The script implies that the internal use of language is largely uninvestigated and could be studied introspectively.
• 🗣️ The speaker notes that when thinking in language, it's often not in the form of full sentences but rather occasional words or phrases.
• 🧠 It is suggested that there might be an internal language system that operates independently of the articulated language we use externally.
• 🗣️🌐 The speaker points out that even the external use of language is not always for communication in the traditional sense.
• 🤝 The script mentions that a significant part of language use is for maintaining social relations, rather than conveying meaningful information.
• 😄 It highlights that activities like telling jokes are more about social bonding than serious communication.
• 🚫 The speaker concludes that it's a mistake to equate communication solely with the use of language.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the transcript about the relationship between language and communication?

The main argument is that language and communication are often incorrectly considered to be the same thing, but in reality, they are not synonymous. The speaker suggests that most of our internal thought processes, which use language, are not communicative in nature.

Why does the speaker believe that the idea of language being the same as communication is 'extremely employable'?

The speaker uses the term 'employable' to imply that the idea is widely accepted without much critical thought. It is a common belief that has not been thoroughly investigated or questioned.

According to the transcript, what percentage of language use is the speaker referring to when they mention internal thought processes?

The speaker estimates that approximately 99.9% of language use is internal, not involving communication with others.

What does the speaker suggest about the nature of our internal thought processes when using language?

The speaker suggests that our internal thought processes do not necessarily involve fully articulated language. Instead, it might be more like occasional words or phrases that we can express either internally or externally.

How does the speaker describe the process of matching internal thoughts with articulated language?

The speaker describes it as a process where we might have an internal meaning that we then try to articulate either to ourselves or to others. When the articulation matches the intended meaning, it indicates that the internal thought has been successfully communicated.

What is the speaker's view on the role of language in setting up social relations and casual conversation?

The speaker believes that a significant part of language use in social settings is not meaningful communication. It is often about maintaining social relations, telling jokes, or passing time rather than conveying important information.

What does the speaker propose is a 'big mistake' in the understanding of language and communication?

The speaker proposes that it is a big mistake to identify communication entirely with language, implying that communication is a broader concept that extends beyond the use of language.

Why does the speaker suggest that introspection could be a way to investigate internal thought processes?

The speaker suggests introspection because it allows an individual to observe and analyze their own thought processes from a third-person perspective, which could provide insights into how language is used internally.

What is the speaker's opinion on the investigation of internal language use?

The speaker believes that internal language use has not been seriously investigated and could be a subject of study if approached with the right methodology.

How does the speaker define 'communication in a meaningful sense'?

The speaker implies that 'communication in a meaningful sense' refers to the exchange of ideas or information that has significance, as opposed to casual conversation or social rituals.

What is the speaker's perspective on the role of non-articulated language in our thoughts?

The speaker's perspective is that non-articulated language plays a significant role in our thoughts, suggesting that our internal language might be more about capturing the essence of what we want to convey rather than using a full linguistic system.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Language vs. Communication Misconception

This paragraph challenges the common assumption that language and communication are synonymous. It argues that all behaviors, including gestures and even one's hairstyle, inherently communicate something, and not all language is used for communication. The speaker reflects on the internal dialogue that occurs in our heads, suggesting that it is not communication but rather a personal cognitive process. Furthermore, the paragraph suggests that even when language is externalized, a significant portion of it is not used for meaningful communication but for social interaction or passing time.

Keywords

💡Dogma

Dogma refers to a principle or set of beliefs held as axiomatic truths, often without questioning. In the context of the video, it is used to challenge the commonly held belief that language and communication are synonymous. The speaker suggests that this is a dogma that needs to be reevaluated, as language is not the only form of communication.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of conveying meaning from one entity to another through various means. The video discusses the misconception that communication is solely dependent on language. The speaker argues that non-verbal cues, such as gestures and hairstyles, also serve as forms of communication, expanding the concept beyond verbal exchange.

💡Language

Language is a system of communication using words or symbols, either spoken or written. The video script questions the assumption that language is the primary means of communication. It points out that much of our internal thought processes, which are not necessarily articulated, involve a form of 'internal language' that is separate from external verbal communication.

💡Behavior

Behavior refers to the actions or reactions of an individual in response to external or internal stimuli. The script implies that behavior is a form of communication, as it can convey information about a person's intentions, emotions, or state of mind. For example, a person's hairstyle or a gesture can communicate aspects of their personality or mood.

💡Introspection

Introspection is the process of self-examination or looking inward to one's thoughts and feelings. The speaker uses introspection as a method to explore the nature of internal language and its role in communication. It is suggested that introspection can reveal that our internal thought processes often do not involve fully articulated language.

💡Articulation

Articulation is the act of expressing thoughts clearly and distinctly, often in speech. The video discusses how articulation can match internal thoughts, suggesting that there is a process of translating internal language into a form that can be communicated externally, either through speech or writing.

💡Internal Language

Internal language refers to the mental process of thinking and formulating ideas without necessarily using spoken or written words. The script suggests that our internal language is not always the same as the language we use to communicate with others, and that it may be more abstract or incomplete.

💡External Language

External language is the language used in social interactions and communication with others. The video points out that a small part of our external language is dedicated to meaningful communication, while much of it is used for social bonding, such as telling jokes or passing time.

💡Social Relations

Social relations refer to the connections and interactions between individuals within a society. The script mentions that a significant portion of our use of external language is dedicated to establishing and maintaining social relations, rather than conveying information or ideas.

💡Meaningful Communication

Meaningful communication is the exchange of information or ideas that has significance or substance. The video argues that not all instances of language use qualify as meaningful communication, distinguishing between casual conversation and the transmission of important or complex ideas.

Highlights

Language and communication are often mistakenly considered synonymous, but they are distinct concepts.

Almost any behavior can communicate something, not just language.

Language is not the only form of communication; non-verbal cues are also significant.

Internal dialogue is a large part of language use, but it is not communication with others.

The nature of internal language use has not been thoroughly investigated.

Introspection suggests that thinking in language may not involve articulated language systems.

Internal language may be a form of communication with oneself, separate from external language use.

The external use of language often serves to establish social relations rather than convey meaningful communication.

The speaker argues against equating communication solely with the use of language.

Language use is often internal and sporadic, with only occasional words surfacing in thought.

Articulation can match internal meaning, but the original thought may not have been in full language form.

The speaker emphasizes the need for a third-person perspective to investigate internal language use.

The speaker suggests that introspection is a personal journey that can vary greatly among individuals.

The external part of language use is a small fraction of overall communication.

Communication in the true sense is often overshadowed by less meaningful exchanges.

The speaker challenges the common assumption that language is the primary means of communication.

Transcripts

it's another Dogma that language and

communication are about the same thing

but if you think about it it's extremely

employable but for one thing you almost

any behavior you carry out communicate

something a gesture the hairstyle you

know almost anything so sure language

behavior also communicates even the

first of all beyond that almost all

language is not involved in

communication and we all know that I

mean you can't go one minute without

talking to yourself I mean it's it's it

takes a tremendous effort of will not to

be doing whatever you're doing when

what's going on in your head well that's

plainly not communication you're doing

it yourself

that's about 99.9% of the use of

language now in fact when you really

think that's never been investigated but

if you introspect about it as it could

be investigated seriously you know from

kind of third person point of view but

hasn't been so you can only sort of

think about it yourself but I can I tell

you my introspections you can figure out

yours but my introspections are that

when I am thinking in language it's not

really language there's just like an

occasional Wordle little long and I know

what I want to say and then I can

express it somehow some sometimes either

internally or externally but if it's the

same for you then that suggests that

there's some kind of language use going

on in there that isn't even using the

articulated language system and it's

just kind of hovering in there somewhere

occasionally bits and pieces come out

and if you try you can say them to

yourself or say them outside and you

know when you get it right which means

that you must have meant something and

the articulation that you produce can

match what you meant but what you meant

is in some internal language and

furthermore even if you take up if you

look at the part of language very small

part that's external you know like what

we're doing a very small part of that is

communication in a seriousness I'm a lot

of us just setting up social relations

that telling jokes to your friends you

know passing time and it's not

communication in a meaningful sense of

the word communication so I think it's

just a big mistake to identify

communication with language