The Role of Language in Communication and Survival: A Thought Experiment

What if the world were devoid of words? Would it lead to a catastrophic communications breakdown, or are there other forms of communication that could sustain life? As we delve into this intriguing thought experiment, we explore the nature of language and its role in survival, evolution, and societal development.

Communication and Its Forms

Do you mean a sudden and total breakdown of all forms of communication? Or do you mean to say that language, in the form we know it, never existed? No one can predict the future, but just as no one can predict the future of our present reality, it’s impossible to know how communication would evolve in an alternate scenario. However, any form of communication by which a sender and receiver share a mutual understanding can be considered a rudimentary form of language. Even plants communicate, though not in a way we can easily understand, through the release of aromatic scents or the arrangement of their leaves and thorns.

Language is a fundamental aspect of survival. It enables organisms to coordinate behavior, share knowledge, and establish complex social structures, which are essential for the perpetuation of life itself. So, if we take the first definition of language presented, it seems clear that most life would indeed go extinct. However, if we redefine language more narrowly, focusing on the formation of semantic concepts through structured communication, only more advanced forms of life—primarily animals—might face extinction.

The Evolution of Communication

Understanding and communication are inherently tied to language. Without a shared framework of meaning, thoughts would be difficult to express and even more challenging to comprehend. Even in a world without words, some forms of communication might persist, albeit in different forms. For instance, plants can "communicate" through chemical signals, and some animals use complex mating calls and dances to convey information. However, these forms of communication might not be sufficient to support the intricate social structures and information exchange necessary for advanced societies.

Modern civilization as we know it cannot exist without the concept of language. 'Education,' in its modern form, would be near-impossible. It is a sliding scale, with human speech and writing at one end and simpler forms of communication at the other. Neanderthals, while not able to write, likely had sophisticated communication skills that allowed them to bury their dead, create tools, and even engage in basic medical practices. They had auditory facilities similar to ours and would have needed language to coordinate these activities.

Examining more advanced forms of communication, we find that some animals have remarkably sophisticated systems in place. Bonobos, for instance, can be taught to understand human words, indicating a robust in-species communication system. Similarly, whales, dolphins, and orcas engage in complex songs that can be considered a form of language. Experiments with corvids, such as crows, have shown that they communicate effectively with each other, using sophisticated signals to warn of danger, gather food, and more.

The Complexity of Language

So, how complex does communication need to be before it can be considered language? Does it require the use of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, with grammatical structures and tenses? Or can it be simpler, based on gestures, chemical signals, and other forms of non-verbal communication?

The concept of language is not black and white, but rather a spectrum of increasingly complex forms of communication. While human language is exceptionally sophisticated, the forms of communication found in nature show that rudimentary language can still enable advanced behaviors. For example, trees can communicate through the exchange of chemical signals, which are crucial for their survival and health. However, these communications are not in the same form as human language, lacking the complexity of human syntax and semantics.

Conclusion

Language is a crucial aspect of human society, enabling us to share knowledge, cooperate, and innovate. Without it, our civilization would be unrecognizable, and even whole species might struggle to survive. However, life on Earth is resilient, and forms of communication can persist and evolve even without words as we know them. This thought experiment underscores the importance of language in our lives and the complexity of the systems that make it possible.