Linking Representations in the Symbol Systems of Algebra

The meanings of abstract concepts depend on context. Perceptual symbol systems (PSS) provide a powerful framework for representing such context. Whereas a few expected difficulties for simulations are consistent with empirical findings, the theory does not clearly predict simulations of specific abstract concepts in a testable way and does not appear to distinguish abstract noun concepts (like truth) from their stem concepts (such as true).

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More on private intuitions and public symbol systems

Creativity Research Journal ◽

10.1080/10400419409534534 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 7 (3-4) ◽

pp. 265-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Howard Gardner

Keyword(s):

Symbol Systems

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Erkundungen Von Gegenwelten: Zur Orientierungsleistung «mythischer» Reisen Am Beispiel Zweier Mesopotamischer Texte Erkundungen Von Gegenwelten: Zur Orientierungsleistung «mythischer» Reisen Am Beispiel Zweier Mesopotamischer Texte

Numen ◽

10.1163/1568527054024740 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 226-254

Author(s):

Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati

Keyword(s):

Present Article ◽

Religious Orientation ◽

Human Life ◽

Religious Symbol ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Literary Sources ◽

Similarities And Differences ◽

Gilgamesh Epic ◽

Definition Of

AbstractThe present article focuses on the function of mythic journeys with regard to the problem of death and the transience of human life in two selected Mesopotamian literary sources: the Gilgamesh-Epic IX–XI and the Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld. The selected texts are analysed and compared from the perspective of a functionalist definition of religious symbol systems, with particular attention to the transformation involved in travelling through different cosmic regions. The structure of the journey, the characterisation of the different regions visited by the protagonist, and the changes provoked by the mythic travel evince similarities and differences in the strategies employed to produce a religious orientation dealing with the ineluctable limits of life.

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Taking symbols for granted? Is the discontinuity between human and nonhuman minds the product of external symbol systems?

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x0800366x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 140-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gary Lupyan

Keyword(s):

Human Performance ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Relational Schemas ◽

Language And Culture ◽

Convincing Argument ◽

Target Article ◽

Nonhuman Animals ◽

Substantial Degree

AbstractThe target article provides a convincing argument that nonhuman animals cannot process role-governed rules, relational schemas, and so on, in a human-like fashion. However, actual human performance is often more similar to that of nonhuman animals than Penn et al. admit. The kind of rule-governed performance the authors take for granted may rely to a substantial degree on language on external symbol systems such as those provided by language and culture.

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Transparency of Three Communication Symbol Systems

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/jshr.2703.436 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 436-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Carolyn R. Musselwhite ◽

Dennis M. Ruscello

Keyword(s):

Test Scores ◽

Age Groups ◽

Forced Choice ◽

Chronological Age ◽

Symbol System ◽

Identification Task ◽

Symbol Systems ◽

Developmental Progression ◽

Total Test

This investigation studied the transparency or guessability of communication symbols from three widely used systems—Blissymbols, Picsyms, and Rebus. Symbol transparency was assessed across four age groups through a forced-choice identification task which contained Word, Phrase, and Sentence subtests. Significant differences were found in both Word subtest and Total test scores for the variables of symbol system and chronological age. Subjects across all age groups performed similarly in response to the Picsyms and Rebus symbol items but significantly more poorly when identifying Blissymbols. In addition, there appeared to be a developmental progression for the Picsym and Rebus symbol tests, but the same trend did not emerge for the Blissymbol test. The feature of symbol transparency, as measured through a forced-choice identification task, discriminated among symbol systems. Significantly fewer symbols from the Bliss system were found to be transparent when compared with Picsym and Rebus systems.

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