Thinking, Problem Solving and Language. Article #9

        Throughout our lives we communicate to the outside world in many different ways. The world is also communicating to us in various ways. Since we are young we are taught the meaning of symbols, language and how to solve problems. As we develop, as we gain experience we acquire more knowledge. Sometimes we are gaining experience and solving problems by doing the simplest of things.

       The skill that we all perform throughout our existence is thinking. The mental activity we call thinking is the understanding, processing and communicating of information. We have the capacity to think thanks to symbols and prototypes. A symbol is something that stands for something else. Our world is literally composed of symbols. The most obvious examples of symbols are the symbols in our numerical system or our alphabetical system. We know that the symbol “A” stands for the sound “aaah” or that the symbol “3” stands for a specific quantity. Another example can be any object like a pencil. The object is not really a pencil. It is something we use to write. We gave it the name pencil and “pencil” is only a set of sounds coming out of our mouth. We will always refer to it as a pencil but the object itself is not a pencil. We think of concepts or ideas all the time and when we imagine a concept or idea a certain picture comes to mind. This is what is called a prototype or an example of a concept that best exemplifies it. Think about a shoe, when you think about it what kind of shoe do you see? Is it a boot, a heel or a sneaker? Whatever it is that is your prototype or example of a shoe.

(The mental activity of thinking.)

       Daily life is composed of problems. There are always problems anywhere you go. This is why problem solving skills are very important to succeed in almost anything. Through experience people learn that different problems are solved in different ways. A way to solve a problem is by using an algorithm which is a specific procedure that, when done properly, will always come up with the solution. A simple example of an algorithm is a mathematical formula like. If used correctly, this formula will always lead to the correct answer. Algorithms though can be really long and tedious. Heuristics on the other hand are quicker than an algorithm but unfortunately will not always lead to the right solution. Some problem solving methods like trial and error are not only algorithms but come instinctively. When we are given a bunch of keys to open a door but we don’t know which key it is, we try key by key and if one doesn’t fit we just try another one. This is an example of trial and error. A heuristic problem solving method is means-end analysis. Here we know certain things we do will have a certain result. Working backwards is like means-end analysis. Here the problem is broken into the difference is that now the person is looking at the final goal first. One of the best ways of solving a problem is following the ABCDs of problem solving. A is to assess, B is to brainstorm approaches, C is to choose and approach, D is to do it and E is to evaluate the results.

       All our lives we are taught to communicate with others. Communication is made possible by language. Language is defined by communication of ideas through symbols that are arranged according to the rules of grammar. There are three stages in which we develop language. The first is crying, cooing and babbling. We do this when we are infants as they are basic human abilities. They are not considered an official language because it lacks the use of symbols. However these are effective ways of verbal expression. After babbling, children start learning actual words. Most children learn their first set of words slowly. Then comes development of grammar. Children just starting to understand language only use the words essential to communicate. As their language develops they start using sentences containing two or more words. When this happens they start imitating their parents on grammatical rules. For example, adding an “s” to make a word plural or an “ed” to make it past tense.

       Communication is crucial for human existence. We are surrounded by symbols that have been created and modified for several years so that communication would be easier. We wouldn’t have been able to create the magic that is language without thinking and problem solving. The modern society that we live in is the product of these three factors.