Natural Human Languages and Mathematics

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that both natural human language and the language of mathematics have a precise formal syntax. The author points out that they both offer meaning in the form of semantics and rely upon a body of commonly held assumptions. The paper concludes that both language and mathematics formalizes the informal in order to facilitate the communication and comprehension of meaning.

From the Paper:

"Upon considering the relationship between natural human language and mathematics, it becomes evident that a number of similarities exist, for both natural human language and the language of mathematics have a precise formal syntax, both offer meaning in the form of semantics, and both rely upon a body of commonly held assumptions. Each of them formalizes the informal in order to facilitate the communication and comprehension of meaning. Lewis Carroll offers examples of the relationship between natural human language and mathematics in his dialogue between the Tortoise and Achilles, for their conversation reveals how linguistic uses of logic are similar to mathematical equations."

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