Abstract:
This paper describes a view of language as a natural system that evolved by self-organizing to simultaneously fit the goal of successful communication and the constraints of the human system for storing and processing information. I will present relevant research findings to illustrate the immense level of attunement between natural language and human mind. I will also compare natural language and programming language to demonstrate multiple similarities, but to also pinpoint the crucial differences. I will argue that natural languages are tailored to fit communication between two interlocutors that share common experience, using the cues to evoke intended state within the interlocutor, whereas programming languages are tailored to instruct the machines using closed system of keywords and rules. Finally, I will layout proposals for possible future directions in making programming more human-friendly.
PPIG 2025 - 36th Annual Workshop
Keynote
Language and Mind: A Complex Dynamic Relation