Thought
A language is not just words. It's a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It's all embodied in a language.
—Noam Chomsky
Application
Today we continue our study of language, approaching from yet another vantage point. I believe that one could draw a direct line from Montessori, to Wittgenstein, to Chomsky. Each of these thinkers orbited this problem (what is language?) while also doing incredible work in other fields.
The fact that such successful polymaths like these all consider language a foundational and exciting field is one of the reasons I wanted to make sure to share it with you. I’ve come to see an interest in the study of language as a mark of one’s ability to be genuinely curious and ask good questions about any topic.
Chomsky remains even in our time a prolific thinker, still engaging in history and political dialogue from a deeply moralistic and principled perspective. He was even the subject of a Netflix documentary covering his analysis of the United States from a historical/ethical perspective.
Similar to Montessori, Chomsky observed the innate ability of young children to understand and absorb language. He went a step further to hypothesize the Language Acquisition Device (LAD)—a yet to be identified component of our minds pre-programmed for language. He believed this LAD was attuned to a universal grammar which helped us absorb and utilize our mother tongue.
Yet again, empirical observation has led scientist and philosophers alike to conclude that the capacity for language and its basic parts is a universal human phenomenon that emerges naturally from within a child.
Just like a bird obeys its instinct to fly, so too does a human being obey its instinct to speak, to communicate, to connect.
Today, consider this special duty, the privilege of speech, communication, and connection. Each time you open your mouth, you are performing a sacred ritual, an ancient tradition, a holy practice of being human.
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Backstory
Chomsky’s backstory is no less intriguing than Montessori or Wittgenstein, but his connection to language is much more intimate. His early life is largely one of genius, often being too insightful to fit in and find happiness in the usual spaces afforded a young person.
He would travel by himself as a young teenager to New York City from his home in the suburbs, to explore and find new books to read. He was especially drawn to a small working-class community of Jewish Intellectuals which satisfied his own intellect, curiosity, and desire for more.
These relationships and the lessons absorbed from them would largely inform the rest of his life’s passion, perspectives, and work.
So much so, that halfway through college he almost left because he found himself bored and at odds with so much of mainstream thought. Thankfully, he was discovered by a professor (whom Chomsky admired) who gave him an opportunity to drop his undergrad studies to research language at the graduate level. If not for language, Chomsky might never have become the prolific thinker he is today.
Chomsky also pursued graduate studies in philosophy and math. He eventually made his way to Harvard and in his doctoral dissertation posed his theory of language (similar to that of Montessori) directly confronting the existing and accepted theory that language is taught, not intuited from within.
Chomsky was eventually invited to teach at MIT, where would he remain to the present day.
In this position Noam would contribute incredible insights to the great conversation from language, to politics, to ethics, and socialization.
Interestingly, referring to his quote above, it was from the perspective of a linguist that he would carefully observe, communicate, critique, and challenge the status quo. His life’s work, his faith tradition, and his community were all emanations of this central insight.
Chomsky saw language was a sacred ritual, and has challenged me to see it the same way.
Until tomorrow friends,
-TPP
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References:
https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/chomsky-theory#universal-grammar
https://www.azquotes.com/author/2834-Noam_Chomsky/tag/language
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Noam-Chomsky/Linguistics
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky
Image:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky
Language