TED Talks Daily Why language is humanity’s greatest invention | David Peterson
Oct 5, 2019
David Peterson, a renowned language creator known for crafting the languages of 'Game of Thrones,' passionately discusses the integral role of language in human civilization. He critiques misconceptions about linguists and highlights the art and urgency of language creation. Peterson shares engaging anecdotes on how language shapes culture and identity while advocating for the preservation of diverse languages. He emphasizes that language is not just a tool but a legacy that enriches our understanding of what it means to be human.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Language's Importance
- Language is crucial for civilization; inventions and buildings wouldn't exist without it.
- It's the foundation of our collective knowledge and progress.
Linguistics vs. Cryptography
- David Peterson criticizes Neil deGrasse Tyson's suggestion of bringing a cryptographer, not a linguist, to communicate with aliens.
- He points out that this misunderstands linguistics' role in deciphering unknown languages.
Language as a Tool
- Many believe that language is merely a tool, especially if they can get by without deep language knowledge.
- This view is fueled by articles like the Forbes piece arguing against learning foreign languages.