Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Yakk · 05-27-2004, 12:12 PM

I don't know much about Linguistics, but I know something about Mathematics.

A good and large chunk of the advances in Mathematics came about because people improved the "Language of Mathematics". Simularly, by thinking in "Mathematics", concepts that are extremely difficult in English (and I assume other languages) become simple.

When you have concepts that are built up out of layers and layers of other concepts, having the linguistic tools (Mathematical language) makes dealing with them much easier. And at some level, it might make it possible.

You could argue that, as the concepts appeared, the language extended. But this isn't what happened: for centuries, people limped along using horrible mathematical language. Eventually, the language used for the concept got neater and clearer, the concept became more understood, and other concepts where built up over it: which came first, I cannot say.

A concrete example: indo-arabic numbers.
32 being 10 * 30 + 1 * 2
Decimals
32.7 being 10*30 + 1 * 2 + 7 * 1/10.
Fractions
3/10
Subtraction
7 - 3 = 4
Using symbols rather than words
saying "take 7 and increase the value by 3 to get a result" vs "7+3".
Variables
x=2+3
Negative numbers
3 - 7 = -4
Numbers detatched from distance or other concrete examples
3 units vs "a length three times longer than the base length in question"

All of the above where revolutionary in their time, and had massive power to change the ability of people to do math.

Many other examples exist higher up in Mathematics. I restricted myself to things you'd be exposed to from a high school education.

PS:
MCMXII * IX = what?
MCMXII / IX = what?
do it without using indo-arabic numbers. Heh.

05-27-2004, 12:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
Yakk Wehret Den Anfängen! Location: Ontario, Canada	I don't know much about Linguistics, but I know something about Mathematics. A good and large chunk of the advances in Mathematics came about because people improved the "Language of Mathematics". Simularly, by thinking in "Mathematics", concepts that are extremely difficult in English (and I assume other languages) become simple. When you have concepts that are built up out of layers and layers of other concepts, having the linguistic tools (Mathematical language) makes dealing with them much easier. And at some level, it might make it possible. You could argue that, as the concepts appeared, the language extended. But this isn't what happened: for centuries, people limped along using horrible mathematical language. Eventually, the language used for the concept got neater and clearer, the concept became more understood, and other concepts where built up over it: which came first, I cannot say. A concrete example: indo-arabic numbers. 32 being 10 * 30 + 1 * 2 Decimals 32.7 being 1030 + 1 2 + 7 * 1/10. Fractions 3/10 Subtraction 7 - 3 = 4 Using symbols rather than words saying "take 7 and increase the value by 3 to get a result" vs "7+3". Variables x=2+3 Negative numbers 3 - 7 = -4 Numbers detatched from distance or other concrete examples 3 units vs "a length three times longer than the base length in question" All of the above where revolutionary in their time, and had massive power to change the ability of people to do math. Many other examples exist higher up in Mathematics. I restricted myself to things you'd be exposed to from a high school education. PS: MCMXII * IX = what? MCMXII / IX = what? do it without using indo-arabic numbers. Heh. __________________ Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.