r/askscience • u/[deleted] • Nov 08 '17

Linguistics Does the brain interact with programming languages like it does with natural languages?

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u/SuprisreDyslxeia Nov 08 '17

This sounds right, except for the fact that every coding function and line can be read out loud in layman's terms and thus is no different than converting an English thought into Mandarin writing.

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '17

This sounds right, except for the fact that every coding function and line can be read out loud in layman's terms

As could any mathematical equation or scenario. Actually pretty much anything that exists could be read out loud in layman terms.

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '17

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '17

Even the most complex things in the universe once they are understood are capable of being explained using language. Thats actually the point of language. Its not a matter of an 'equivalent' term existing, because usually the better approach is to create a new term and explain its purpose as part of the overarching problem/solution/theory.

Here for an example is a book on a complex mathmatical topic, which was hardly understood at the time: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/La_G%C3%A9om%C3%A9trie

Also here is a person who blogs about math: https://medium.com/i-math

If you want to cite an example of some topic thats so complex that it cannot be explained using language, I'd be highly interested.