Lex Fridman Podcast
Noam Chomsky: Language, Cognition, and Deep Learning
Nov 29, 2019
Noam Chomsky, a towering figure in linguistics and philosophy, discusses the profound connections between language and cognition. He explores the intriguing idea of communicating with extraterrestrial beings, the brain's role in language, and the limits of human thought. The conversation also highlights the promise and pitfalls of deep learning in understanding language and touches on deep questions about good, evil, mortality, and the meaning of life itself. Chomsky's insights make for an intellectually stimulating dialogue that provokes reflection and curiosity.
36:10
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Quick takeaways
- The concept of structure dependence in language allows us to interpret sentences based on their structural patterns rather than just the linear proximity of words, having deep implications for language processing and comprehension.
- Language plays a central role in human reasoning and thought, serving as the mechanism by which we construct and express our thoughts, providing structure and meaning to our endless expressions, and underlying our creative and intellectual capacities.
Deep dives
The Structure of Language and its Core Property of Structure Dependence
One of the most fascinating aspects of language and linguistics is the concept of structure dependence. This property of language refers to our ability to interpret sentences based on their structural patterns rather than just the linear proximity of words. An example is when the phrase 'carefully packed his tools' can be interpreted as the guy who fixed the car doing the careful packing, even though it seems to violate linear proximity. This phenomenon is universal across languages and has deep implications for our understanding of language processing and comprehension.
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