Chapter 1: Introduction to Math as Language

Is there a parallel between numbers and words? For instance, does ‘1’ equate to ‘one’ or is ‘eighty-eight’ identical to ‘88’?

To delve deeper into this intriguing question, we can examine a notable study involving the Tsimane tribe, which resides in a secluded area of the Bolivian rainforest. This group consists of approximately 13,000 individuals who primarily engage in farming and foraging. While many Tsimane children begin their education around five years of age, their proficiency in counting varies greatly.

Their native language includes terms for numbers up to 100; however, anything beyond that requires the use of Spanish. Interestingly, few individuals can count beyond forty, making the Tsimane an excellent subject for studying the influence of number words on counting and cognitive processes.

In one experiment, the Tsimanes were tasked with matching a specific quantity of objects, such as ten pebbles, with a corresponding set, like AA batteries. This seemingly straightforward task is something most people can accomplish without much thought.

However, for the Tsimanes, the maximum quantity they could accurately match depended on their counting capacity. For example, an individual who can count to 10 would struggle when trying to align eight or nine items, while someone capable of counting to 15 would face difficulties when matching around 13 or 14.

The challenge intensified when the arrangement of objects was ‘orthogonal’—where pebbles were placed in a horizontal line while batteries needed to be organized vertically, making a straightforward match impossible.

The results of this study indicate that performing tasks requiring numerical manipulation heavily relies on number words or other explicit numerical systems. This raises an important question: How much of mathematics is fundamentally a form of language?

Video Description: In this TEDx talk, Randy Palisoc explores the concept that mathematics is not merely a series of calculations but a language in its own right, emphasizing its communicative aspects.

Chapter 2: Mathematics as a Language

Video Description: This video discusses the idea of mathematics as a universal language, examining how it transcends cultural boundaries and serves as a means of communication.