Mentalese vs Language
Dante Monson
Steven Pinker’s perspective on the relationship between language and thought is rooted in cognitive science and the "computational theory of mind." He argues that while language is our primary vehicle for communicating ideas, it is distinct from the internal medium of thought itself.
Steven Pinker’s Core Concepts: Language vs. Thought
Pinker posits that thought occurs in a medium often referred to as "Mentalese"—a non-linguistic representation of concepts, logical relations, and imagery.
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Evidence for the Distinction:
- Language Acquisition: Children understand the world, objects, and intentions long before they acquire the specific labels (words) for them [01:13].
- The "Gist" of Memory: Human long-term memory is "gist-robust." Seconds or minutes after hearing a sentence, we rarely remember the exact words, but we retain the semantic meaning or "content" [01:52].
- Non-Linguistic Cognition: Many forms of sophisticated thought, such as visual imagery, mental maps, and spatial reasoning, do not rely on words [01:32].
- The Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon: We often have a clear thought but struggle to find the right words to "clothe" it, proving the thought exists prior to the linguistic expression [02:52].
- The Function of Language: Language acts as a bridge or a "one-time password" [03:13]. It allows us to hold abstract ideas in working memory and, most importantly, to transmit the private "Mentalese" of one brain into the brain of another [04:02].
Complementary Knowledge Domains & Theories
To broaden this understanding, we can look at complementary theories that view language through different lenses:
1. Language as Technology (The "Extended Mind")
Thinkers like Andy Clark and Daniel Dennett suggest that language is a cognitive technology—an external tool that upgrades our mental hardware.
- Scaffolding: Just as a physical lever lets us lift more weight, language allows us to "label" complex thoughts, making them easier to manipulate. It transforms "slow" biological thinking into "fast" algorithmic processing.
- Iterative Thinking: Writing (a form of language technology) allows for "off-loading" memory, enabling us to build arguments far more complex than what a naked biological brain could hold in active working memory.
2. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (Linguistic Relativity)
While Pinker largely rejects the strong version of this theory (that language determines thought), the "weak" version suggests that language influences thought.
- Attention Shifting: If your language requires you to specify the gender of a neighbor or the cardinal direction of an object (North vs. Left), your brain becomes more practiced at noticing those specific details in the environment.
3. Inter-sensory Closure (Hillary Lawson’s Perspective)
In the video, Hillary Lawson offers a contrast to Pinker's "Enlightenment" view. He suggests that language and thought are both forms of "closure"—the process by which the brain takes the infinite "openness" of the world and collapses it into fixed identities (like "glass" or "hamster") [06:54].
- Social Norms: From this view, the "truth" of a word isn't just about an objective thing in the world, but a social agreement to hold the world in a specific way to facilitate interaction [15:52].
Comparison of Frameworks
|
Concept |
Pinker (Cognitive Science) |
Lawson (Post-Realism) |
Language as Tech (Extended Mind) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Origin of Thought |
Pre-linguistic "Mentalese." |
Inter-sensory "Closure." |
Co-evolved with tools. |
|
Role of Language |
A vehicle for communication. |
A tool for creating identity. |
A cognitive "upgrade" or scaffold. |
|
Relationship to Reality |
Maps onto objective things. |
Holds the world as "something." |
Manipulates environment for utility. |
By viewing language as a technology, we see it not just as a way to "name" what we already think, but as a system of symbolic manipulation that allows for the emergence of higher-order reasoning, much like how a calculator doesn't just "report" math but enables the execution of complex equations.