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Retricyesterday at 6:45 PM2 repliesview on HN

Words and symbols alone don’t make a language.

Zipper and and? and coin is pimple, Ocean! run bumper.


Replies

fc417fc802yesterday at 7:29 PM

Your example is a meaningless sequence. So consider a different scenario where the sequence is meaningful but does not map to any human language. What exactly disqualifies it as a non-human language?

When you encounter a human language that you can't personally read presumably you don't proceed to claim that it doesn't constitute language on the basis of your own lack of ability.

To come at it from a slightly different angle - does compiled binary code count as a language? If not, why not? (I'll suggest that it's a language albeit not a natural one.)

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shsshsyesterday at 7:08 PM

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