Entrevista con Noam Chomsky, Premio Fronteras del Conocimiento en Humanidades

Fundación BBVA


Summary

The video discusses the theory of computation and its role in enhancing human capacity for creating and conveying thoughts. It explores the historical shift in linguistic theories towards viewing language as a property of the individual's brain, enabling limitless thought expressions. Bio-linguistics research reveals language as a species property that fosters human creativity and achievements through the generation of intricate and precise knowledge. The study emphasizes fundamental principles and hierarchical structures shared by languages, leading to the discovery of deep uniformities. Overall, the evolving understanding of language showcases unique properties like discrete infinity and hierarchical structures, shedding light on language as a product of biological evolution.


Introduction to Human Language

The work recaptures an older tradition of explaining how normal human beings can acquire a remarkable capacity for creating thoughts and conveying them to others, thanks to the development of the theory of computation.

Historical Perspective on Language Study

In the early 20th century, language was viewed as a collection of word images in the minds of a community, but later linguistic theories shifted to consider language as a property of an individual's brain with the capacity to create expressions of thought without limit.

Evolution of Linguistics

The shift from the structuralist and behaviorist tradition to generative grammar allowed for a deeper understanding of language as a property of the brain that enables the creation of limitless thought expressions.

Bio-Linguistics and Species Characteristics

Recent work in bio-linguistics has revealed language as a species property that provides the means for infinite use of finite resources in constructing expressions of thought, contributing to the distinctive creativity and achievements of humans.

Language Development and Universality

Languages, despite surface differences, share fundamental principles and hierarchical structures that allow for the generation of intricate and precise knowledge universally, steering language study towards discovering deep uniformities.

Theoretical Advances in Language Study

The study of language has evolved to reveal surprising properties like discrete infinity and hierarchical structures, unique to language and not found elsewhere in the biological world, enhancing our understanding of language as a product of biological evolution.


FAQ

Q: What is the theory of computation?

A: The theory of computation is a field in computer science that deals with how efficiently problems can be solved using algorithms and computational devices.

Q: How was language initially viewed in the early 20th century?

A: In the early 20th century, language was viewed as a collection of word images in the minds of a community.

Q: What is generative grammar?

A: Generative grammar is a linguistic theory that shifted the understanding of language as a property of an individual's brain with the capacity to create expressions of thought without limit.

Q: What is bio-linguistics?

A: Bio-linguistics is a field that studies language as a species property that provides the means for infinite use of finite resources in constructing expressions of thought, contributing to human creativity and achievements.

Q: What surprising properties have been revealed about language through evolution?

A: Surprising properties like discrete infinity and hierarchical structures have been revealed through the evolution of language, enhancing our understanding of language as a product of biological evolution.

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