Numbers, Language, and the Human Mind

This 2003 book discusses the relationship between numerical thinking and the human language faculty.

Heike Wiese (Author)

9780521831826, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 11 December 2003

360 pages, 4 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.65 kg

'This book is sure to become a classic in its field. … it provides an impressive synthesis of findings and leading ideas across multiple fields, including the philosophy of mathematics … an invaluable reference work for virtually anyone interested in 'exploring the distinctive way in which numerical cognition is intertwined with the human language faculty. … W's rich and impressive work is going to be essential reading for many years to come.' Language

What constitutes our number concept? What makes it possible for us to employ numbers the way we do; which mental faculties contribute to our grasp of numbers? What do we share with other species, and what is specific to humans? How does our language faculty come into the picture? This 2003 book addresses these questions and discusses the relationship between numerical thinking and the human language faculty, providing psychological, linguistic and philosophical perspectives on number, its evolution and its development in children. Heike Wiese argues that language as a human faculty plays a crucial role in the emergence of systematic numerical thinking. She characterises number sequences as powerful and highly flexible mental tools that are unique to humans and shows that it is language that enables us to go beyond the perception of numerosity and to develop such mental tools.

Introduction
1. Numbers and objects
2. What does it mean to be a number?
3. Can words be numbers?
4. The language legacy
5. Children's route to number: from iconic representations to numerical thinking
6. The organisation of our cognitive number domain
7. Non-verbal number systems
8. Numbers in language: the grammatical integration of numerical tools
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Psycholinguistics [CFD]