Guest  Writers 

What if humans never invented a language? A question rarely considered by many. Yet language is something that shapes our daily lives, culture and very existence on earth. Language provides social connection, human culture as well as being an unconscious part of our being. So imagine a world where humans were stripped of their talking ability; a matter we couldn't imagine, and quite frankly all take for granted every minute of every day. 

Studies have shown that we wouldn’t just be less intelligent but fundamentally different creatures. Progress would be slower, but perhaps human connection would be deeper? More intrinsically powerful through mutual understanding and heightened awareness? This is an impossible phenomenon and yet is still something that makes us naturally imagine and consider a paradoxical universe where this is the case. According to University College London, language is all about rules. In our day to day communication these rules give us the framework for talking and understanding. Attention and listening skills are the foundation for language development. Would a lack of language leave us in a lawless society built purely on an acute ability to instinctively understand one another? Further studies have shown that a loss of language leaves no space for abstract thought. This is due to the fact that language allows us to manipulate ideas that are not physically present such as history, future plans or theoretical concepts. A silent society would be greatly focused on the present with no opportunity for reminders of future or past ideas. This may provide humanity with a slower pace to life and yet allow for conflicts to grow through the lack of reminder of past mistakes. Society would be built on a precarious (or perhaps strong) foundation of terrific trust. Moreover, to make sense of the world, humans would likely greatly rely on communication methods similar to that of animals like elaborate visual symbolism. Thoughts and ideas wouldn't be recorded on paper but instead passed down to future generations through actions and pictorial learning. An example of this concept of a world stripped of words is Jasper Morrison's ‘A World Without Words’ demonstrates how visual juxtaposition can portray rich narratives without a single word. 

Research has shown that thoughts can exist without language, as the brain's language centres remain silent during logic or memory tasks. It highlights that the brain relies heavily on raw visual and emotional stimuli. A classic example is Chimps. Chimps can sometimes outplay humans' strategy demonstrating an elite lack of reliance on language and words. How is it that they speak no words, yet have the ability to think? Evelina Fedorenko, an associate professor, has researched the brain and the formation of thought. She describes language as a tool for communication but not thought. Furthermore, whilst humans lack the ability to read each other's minds, language allows ideas and knowledge to be passed from one brain to another. Interestingly, Fedoreno also acknowledges how this complex ability to share thoughts, likely equipped the human race with a great evolutionary advantage. 

So whilst humans are biologically capable of a world without words, what would our society look like and how would it function? A question that still remains unanswered.