computational linguistics

[bianca]

Can computers achieve self-awareness?

[Casiopea]

If self-awareness is defined in the right way, yes.

[bianca]

Self-awareness is about consciousness.

Or, let me put it this way: can computers achieve semantic thought or free will?

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by bianca

Self-awareness is about consciousness.

Or, let me put it this way: can computers achieve semantic thought or free will?

Computers are based on the same human principle on the surface structure only Bianca: IPO ie input - processing - output. Latest developments make computers more powerful but they are still much more primitive than most primitive cells. It is difficult to predict what technological developments we will achieve. After all computers are made by human beings. If computers become more organic (Bionic technology) maybe they can develop human qualities. However, we human beings still don't know what self-awareness is. This is a very complex process which includes brain, psychology ....we haven't even started to understand the basics or maybe we will never understand. How can computers achieve semantic thought or free will if they cannot even translate a simple text? The evolution hasn't even started yet.
Jamshid

[bianca]

True.
How do you think computers will affect development of language and of human judgement?

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by bianca

True.
How do you think computers will affect development of language and of human judgement?

Computers are based on logic yes/no or digital priciple. Human language is not digital but analogue (not discrete but in flow). Anything which is digital is a reduction or simplification. I don't think this will satisfy our needs as human beings. It might affect communication ie make communication faster through shortening. Long Romance words (which are abundant in English) might be either replaced, become outdated or shortened (parsimony) . Communication beyond language as we know today was part of my own reflections in Linguistic Predictions.

[bianca]

Children often give us little clues to many paradoxes here in life. But we're not susceptible enough for their clever signals.

Once, when I was at the zoo, I heard my litttle son saying: "mom, look at that crocodile! It is idle and ugly, not like in my computer-game." After a while, he refused going to the zoo entirely.

That made me think: my son (who is very fond of animals) is bored, he thinks nothing of these fine animals and their landscape any more, because the colours and the lively animation on his computer game are far more exciting.

My question is: if we see things through the prism of other things, and judge accordingly, then computers have the power to give us another dimension or perspective on our world, or? If so, then the language people use when writing on computers might also affect the way we look on language outside of the computer, right? Is that going to affect language and communication, in the long term?

bianca

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

Originally Posted by bianca

In a way of speaking, humans too (just like computers do) are involved in a process of reduction since human awareness exists within a manufactured reality - as "insiders", we reduce everything to elements of our reality. As outsiders, some will see our reality as pure information to labour on.

True, the only difference is our reality or let me say system can be expanded and the boundaries extended since we are not slaves of a digital system. The two systems seen this way function completely differently.

[bianca]

Check out my previous question, Jamshid. Please???

bianca

[Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim]

This is in a way like the old question since the invention of script: does writing infleuence speaking?