A groundbreaking study by MIT researchers reveals that the brain processes constructed languages, or conlangs, in a similar way to natural languages, challenging our understanding of language and its relationship with the human mind.
A new study by MIT researchers has found that the brain processes constructed languages, or conlangs, in a similar way to natural languages. ‘This discovery sheds light on the fundamental properties of language and challenges our understanding of how the human mind processes communication.’
Conlangs, short for constructed languages, are intentionally created languages used in fiction, education, and communication.
They can be designed to resemble real-world languages or have unique grammatical structures.
Notable examples include Elvish from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth stories and Klingon from the Star Trek franchise.
Conlangs serve various purposes, including facilitating language learning, enriching fictional worlds, and exploring linguistic concepts.
The Power of Constructed Languages
For decades, linguists have been fascinated by constructed languages, such as Esperanto, Klingon, and Dothraki. These languages were created for specific purposes, often with the goal of promoting international communication or world-building in fiction. ‘While they may not be as widely spoken as natural languages, conlangs have sparked intense interest among language enthusiasts.’
The MIT study involved a weekend conference where speakers of various constructed languages gathered to participate in a research project. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers scanned the brains of 44 participants as they listened to sentences in their native language and in the conlang they were proficient in. ‘The results showed that the brain regions responsible for processing natural languages were also activated when listening to conlangs.’
Common Features of Natural and Constructed Languages
The study’s findings suggest that certain features are essential for a language to engage the brain’s language-processing network. These include:
Language processing is a subfield of artificial intelligence that enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language.
This technology has revolutionized the way we interact with machines, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to language translation software and text analysis tools.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global natural language processing market size is projected to grow from $13.1 billion in 2020 to $26.4 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.3%.
Language processing has numerous applications in customer service, marketing, and healthcare, among others.
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The ability to convey meanings about the interior and exterior world
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Expressing inner and outer world-related meanings, such as referring to objects in the world or their properties
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Conveying complex meanings through symbolic generative systems
These characteristics are shared by both natural and constructed languages, but not programming languages. Programming languages, like computer code, are self-contained systems that primarily rely on abstract relationships rather than connections to the external world.
Implications for Language Research
The discovery of conlang processing has significant implications for our understanding of language and its relationship with the human brain. ‘It challenges traditional notions of what constitutes a ‘natural’ language and highlights the importance of considering constructed languages in linguistic research.’
Next Steps in the Study of Conlangs
To further refine our understanding of conlang processing, researchers are now planning to study how the brain responds to other constructed languages, such as Lojban. This will help to identify the key features that activate the language network and shed more light on the complex nature of human communication.
The study’s results demonstrate that even though conlangs may not have evolved naturally over time or within a community, they can still engage the brain’s language-processing mechanisms in a way similar to natural languages. ‘This finding opens up new avenues for research into the fundamental properties of language and its relationship with the human mind.’
