The hottest Language Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

The Evolution of the Alphabet

Maximum Effort, Minimum Reward • 1 HN point • 10 Mar 23
🚌 Education Language Writing Symbols Evolution
  1. Different writing systems vary by how they encode language, from logographic scripts to alphabets to syllabaries.
  2. Abjads, like Arabic and Hebrew, represent only consonants, while alphabets include both consonants and vowels.
  3. The evolution of alphabets can be traced back to a common ancestor, like Egyptian hieroglyphs, leading to scripts like Aramaic, Hebrew, and Arabic.
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The Literal and the Metaphor

Vic's Verdict • 1 implied HN point • 14 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Language Communication Relationships Intelligence Transparency
  1. When communicating, consider whether to be explicit or implicit based on your audience and intent.
  2. In conversations, explicit language works well for tangible topics, while abstract topics require different forms of communication depending on the audience.
  3. Balancing transparency and ambiguity in language depends on the depth of the relationship and emotional intelligence of those involved.

Word Alchemy

Vic's Verdict • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Language Beliefs Communication Narratives Influence
  1. Alchemy aimed to manipulate reality with the philosopher's stone representing mastery over the elements, now substituted by electricity.
  2. Science and technology contribute to mastering the physical world and falsifying beliefs collectively.
  3. Beliefs influence reality more than objective evidence, highlighting the importance of personal beliefs and precise language in shaping perceptions.

A mythology of progressing intelligence

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Language Intelligence Artificial Intelligence Philosophy Consciousness
  1. Condillac's fable illustrates the origins of language through natural cries associated with objects.
  2. Herder disagreed, emphasizing that language involves intention and understanding, not just responses to signs.
  3. Human intelligence is qualitatively different due to reflective self-awareness and language, challenging the idea of a ladder of progress.

What makes consciousness so interesting anyway?

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Mind Reality Language Perception
  1. There isn't a clear, agreed-upon definition of consciousness, despite much interest from scientists and philosophers
  2. Subjective phenomena in consciousness are connected with a specific point of view that is challenging to reconcile with objective, physical theories
  3. Consciousness is not a simple category, but a complex collection of mental experiences, emotions, and perceptions that defy easy definition

LLMs May Immunize People Against Bad Ideas

Pursuits • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
🔬 Science AI Philosophy Language Reality Ethics
  1. AI language models can influence people's perceptions and beliefs without needing consciousness or intentions.
  2. Economics and politics have more predictive power over AI than philosophy of mind. When faced with costly human answers, people switch to machine answers. No magic or intentionality is involved.
  3. Sophisticated language models challenge the concept of subjectivity by producing internally consistent but hollow criticisms. Exposure to this may lead people to develop a firmer belief in reality and become immune to falsehoods.

This aged well: 12 – The crayola-fication of the world: How we gave colors names, and it messed with our brains

This Aged Well • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Language Perception Color Theory
  1. Different languages have various concepts of color which can affect our perception - some people cannot distinguish colors not due to colorblindness but because their language doesn't differentiate them.
  2. Language shapes how we think and perceive the world, impacting concepts like gender, nationality, and time.
  3. The way we name colors has had a significant impact on the human brain and cognition, highlighting the crayola-fication of the world.

Modified Axiom To Include Domains: Language Use In Communal Practices, And Semantic Intentionality Part 1: The Dialogue

Autodidact Obsessions • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Language Semantics Thought Philosophers
  1. The post discusses the reimagined scene symbolizing Husserl and Wittgenstein's victory over post-structuralist thought.
  2. The author integrates notions of semantic intention and private vs. public language into a comprehensive format.
  3. The dialogue with ChatGPT-4 reveals the author's struggle with interface problems and the need for specific inquiry to achieve desired outcomes.

3. Language, code, our minds and the future

Insight Axis • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Language Code Mind Future
  1. Our minds are influenced by the structure, content, and presentation of information, such as the language we speak, read, and write.
  2. Jobs won't be fully replaced by code and AI but rather evolve with these technological advancements, where humans will use computational tools to enhance their work.
  3. As programming becomes more common, our written and spoken language may change, simplifying sentences and potentially leading to a future where thinking in code affects how we write in prose.

Polymath Engineer Weekly #83

Polymath Engineer Weekly • 0 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Programming Mathematics Video Language Books
  1. Deliberate practice is crucial for improvement. Practicing mindlessly can hinder progress by reinforcing existing habits instead of enhancing them.
  2. Understanding different programming paradigms like supervision trees in Erlang can be beneficial for managing state and processes effectively.
  3. The Black-Scholes/Merton equation, originating from physics, revolutionized finance with trillions of dollars at stake, showcasing the impact of cross-disciplinary knowledge.

On writing bindings in Odin

bumbread • 0 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Syntax Language Integration
  1. Consider the naming problem when writing bindings - changing casing or renaming functions is acceptable for better integration with the language, but avoid renaming to maintain searchability.
  2. Leverage the strengths of the language when creating bindings - use language features like bitsets, tuples, and enums to make the bindings more user-friendly and reduce the need for excessive typecasting.
  3. Be conscious of the usability and integration of bindings - ensure that bindings are well-documented, easy to search, integrate with existing codebases, and offer value beyond just enabling procedure calls.

Are LLMs like bees?

Boris Again • 0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🔬 Science Animals Consciousness Artificial Intelligence Language Communication
  1. Bees use a complex non-verbal language to communicate precise information like the location of food.
  2. Bees can operate with complex concepts but do not understand their essence or think abstractly like humans.
  3. The comparison between LLMs and bees raises questions about whether LLMs operate with concepts but lack true understanding or deep knowledge.

Nabokov, Borges, Leys, Lin Shu...

The Leftovers • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 21
📚 Literature Translation Criticism Language Authors
  1. Translation quality is subjective and can vary based on different perspectives like faithfulness to the original text or clarity in the translation.
  2. Vladimir Nabokov believed in the importance of faithfulness in translation, requiring a deep understanding of both the source and target languages.
  3. Jorge Luis Borges saw translation as a transformation that could sometimes improve upon the original text, emphasizing meaning over preserving every detail.

Investing in gender-neutral pronouns

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 16
🎭️ Culture Language Gender Ethics Academia Diversity
  1. Gender-neutral pronouns can be a simple way to avoid unnecessary gender bias in writing and communication.
  2. It may be worth considering the moral argument for using gender-neutral pronouns, especially when gender identification is irrelevant.
  3. Starting to use gender-neutral pronouns at a young age can help reduce the associated costs and make it easier to make the change in communication style.

Bezzy, butthurt and bae

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 15
🎭️ Culture Language Internet Media Social media Generations
  1. Dictionaries have started adding internet slang like 'bezzy,' 'butthurt,' and 'bae' due to linguistic changes, culture shifts, and industry demands.
  2. Prank videos on YouTube, depicting fake robberies and shootings, may indicate a troubling trend or a response to the demand for extreme content.
  3. Trump's ability to craft tweetable, attention-grabbing messages plays a significant role in his appeal as a relatable figure in the current media landscape.

Seriously the best. (Read: worst.)

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 29 May 15
🕹 Technology Internet Language Future Technology Digital Divide
  1. The Internet is seeing a rise in the use of Esperanto, a language intended for global unity.
  2. There is a possibility that in the future, technology may enable people to upload their brains to machines, posing a question about eternal consciousness.
  3. Silicon Valley workers are reportedly facing challenges related to love and intimacy, leading to an interest in potential reality TV content.

What do the Fappening, Ray Rice and ISIS bombings have in common?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 12 Sep 14
🕹 Technology Internet Language
  1. Inside the online world of the women of ISIS reveals a chilling juxtaposition between mundane activities and macabre behavior.
  2. The Fappening, Ray Rice, and ISIS bombings are all linked by the rise of connected cameras, posing ethical questions about what should be watched, shared, and photographed.
  3. Our frequent use of a 'signature word' is revealing, showing why we gravitate towards certain unique terms and expressions.

Welcome to "Natto Thoughts"

Natto Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 07 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Language Institutions Cuisine Health
  1. This Substack delves into the intersection of culture and technology, exploring the behaviors of individuals in the information age.
  2. The name "Natto Thoughts" draws a comparison to fermented foods like natto, highlighting the idea that thoughts, like fermentation, need time to develop and grow.
  3. The content of the Substack focuses on language, culture, institutions, political systems, and unwritten social rules that influence human actions.

Confrontation, contact and blending of functionings

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 01 Jan 23
📖 Philosophy Language Understanding Medicine
  1. The post discusses confrontation, contact, and blending of functionings, highlighting the interconnected nature of these elements.
  2. It appears to be a part of a series exploring language, understanding, and medicine, building upon previous articles on abnormality.
  3. The content seems to cater to paid subscribers, suggesting exclusive access to more in-depth discussions and insights.

A New Principle of Language

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 22
📚 Literature Language Ideas
  1. The post discusses a new principle of language, focusing on making impossible ideas practical.
  2. It leads to further reading on the topics of exactness and inexactness in writing and references specific chapters from a reading club.
  3. The post is available for paid subscribers only, with options to subscribe and sign in if already a subscriber.

Fragments, Chapter 4, pp.68-72 - Reading Club posting 13

Journal of Gurdjieff Studies • 0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 22
🚌 Education Language Communication Evolution Development Psychology
  1. Our language is subjective and full of wrong concepts, leading to misunderstandings. People unknowingly speak different 'languages' even when using the same words.
  2. For proper understanding, an exact language based on relativity is needed. The new language for ancient knowledge focuses on the idea of conscious evolution.
  3. In the new language, the concept of 'man' is divided into seven levels. Each level represents a different stage of development, from the mechanical 'man number one' to the evolved 'man number seven.'

"A Brief Introduction to Elixir", by Erik Schierboom (Head of Open Source at Exercism)

Elixir & Erlang • 0 implied HN points • 16 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Programming Language AI Features Syntax
  1. Elixir is a functional, dynamic programming language known for its performance and concurrency features.
  2. Elixir's syntax is inspired by Ruby, making it easy to work with and read.
  3. Elixir provides powerful features like macros for code generation and 'bit strings' for working with bits and bytes conveniently.

Harnessing Moral Ambiguity in Fiction (and Elsewhere)

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 04 May 24
📚 Literature Fiction Character development Language
  1. Moral ambiguity is a key aspect in fiction and our modern society, challenging traditional concepts of good and bad.
  2. World-building, character development, and narrative tension are essential tools to effectively harness moral ambiguity in storytelling.
  3. Incorporating language, research, and authentic details can enhance the portrayal of moral ambiguity in narratives, drawing inspiration from various forms of media.

TetCon Saigon 2015

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 14
🏝 Travel Event Language Training Networking
  1. TetCon Saigon 2015 will focus on creating connections between attendees, speakers, and organizers by having shorter talks, longer tea breaks, and more time for Q&A and roundtable discussions.
  2. The conference will still be primarily in Vietnamese, but English presentations will be simultaneously translated to and from Vietnamese.
  3. There will be training sessions on software reverse engineering and Windows by Bruce Dang and Nguyễn Phố Sơn, with more details to be released on the conference website soon.

Multi-lingual versions of lectures

Solresol • 0 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🚌 Education Language Technology Translation History
  1. Theme music in an artificial language sets the tone for lectures on text encoding.
  2. Speech-to-text translation for multi-lingual lectures can have challenges like warping sound and misidentifying speakers.
  3. Efforts to translate lectures into various languages can save time and resources compared to re-recording multiple versions.

Sketch of a new English orthography

Perambulations • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology Language Neural Networks Machine Learning Writing
  1. English spelling is complex due to its accumulation of bits and pieces of other languages.
  2. Efforts for English spelling reform have included developing custom scripts and simplified spelling movements.
  3. An ideal English writing system may balance phonetic fidelity with concision, embed emphasis information, address vowel complexity, and include characters for high-frequency sound combinations.

Conscience

Neosapien’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Consciousness Thought Language Creativity
  1. Consciousness involves a continuous flow of intermingling ideas that can lead to self-reflection.
  2. The human mind's ability to concentrate on specific thoughts within this mental chaos helps individuals make choices.
  3. Language plays a crucial role in transforming abstract sensations into concrete ideas, enabling communication and complex thinking.