Exercise #3: Inventing Language
Language is the most important aspect in the life of all beings.
We use language to express inner thoughts and
emotions, make sense of complex and abstract
thought, to learn to communicate with others. All
human languages share basic characteristics, some
of which are organizational rules and infinite
generativity. Infinite generativity is the ability to
produce an infinite number of sentences using a
limited set of rules and words.
Your 60 minute Practice Mini- Challenge:
Create a new 5 up word spoken language that
allows team members to communicate when they
can’t see one another. This “sightless language”
must be totally original --- it cannot be based on
any existing language.
Among the words you may want to invent are:
1) Go, 2) Stop, 3) Left, 4) Right, 5) Fast, 6)
Slow……..
Once you are done, try out your new language on 3 team members who must walk around
the room with eyes shut, avoiding obstacles, as you guide them.
4/11/16