When we speak, a vast network of brain areas is activated to help us formulate and understand sentences, regardless of the language used. But what about invented languages, such as Esperanto or Klingon? Is the human brain programmed to process them in the same way? According to US research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the answer is yes!
There are said to be around 6,700 languages in the world, but for some, that's still not enough. To enrich the worlds of fantasy and science fiction, linguists have created languages from scratch, such as Klingon (“Star Trek”), Dothraki and High Valyrian (“Game of Thrones”), Na'vi (“Avatar”), and Sindarin and Quenya (“The Lord of the Rings”).
But these fictional languages very quickly went beyond their role as narrative tools. Driven by the enthusiasm of fans, they became much more than simple inventions. Entire communities were formed, exchanging quotes and translations, refining grammatical rules and developing learning guides. These languages eventually became true means of expression, almost like living languages.
People might spend time learning vocabulary that will, in theory, be of no use on Earth, for the love of words, the pleasure of exploring a fictional universe in depth, or even to forge links with a community sharing the same passion.
But how does our brain respond to these invented languages? To find out, neuroscientists at MIT conducted a groundbreaking experiment in November 2022. Over the course of a weekend, some 50 speakers of invented languages underwent functional MRI scans. This examination revealed that invented languages mobilize the same cerebral system as so-called natural languages, "which suggests that the key feature that is necessary to engage the system may have to do with the kinds of meanings that both kinds of languages can express," explains Evelina Fedorenko, an associate professor of neuroscience at MIT and senior author of the study, quoted in a news release.
A language is more than a series of symbols
The explanation is simple: whether natural or constructed, a language is primarily used to convey meaning. Unlike computer languages, which are based on pure mathematical logic, natural and invented languages allow us to express concepts, emotions and human realities. This is why our brain does not treat them at all like computer code.
Natural languages are the result of centuries of evolution within human communities. Conversely, constructed languages (or “conlangs”) are generally created by a single person with precise rules. Esperanto, for example, was conceived in 1887 by Ludwik Zamenhof with the aim of simplifying international communication. Today, around 60,000 people speak it fluently.
For Saima Malik-Moraleda, an MIT postdoc and the study's lead author, these findings shed new light on the nature of language. "It helps us narrow down this question of what a language is, and do it empirically, by testing how our brain responds to stimuli that might or might not be language-like," the researcher explains.
To take things further, the MIT team wants to examine the brain's reaction to Lojban, a constructed language created in the 1990s with the aim of eliminating all linguistic ambiguity and optimizing the precision of exchanges. This new study could provide a better understanding of what fundamentally distinguishes a language from a simple system of symbols, such as mathematics or programming. Through these discoveries, the richness and diversity of language is reconfirmed, reminding us that, far beyond words, it is our ability to share ideas and emotions that defines us.
Reference Provided by ETX
※ Picks respects the rights of all copyright holders. If you do wish to make material edits, you will need to run them by the copyright holder for approval.
more from
ETX
ETX
Europe's most feline-dense country is...
2025-04-22 00:00:00
ETX
There's a generation of employees who have never known the world of regular office hours
2025-04-22 00:00:00
ETX
AI agents poised to take over travel industry
2025-04-21 00:00:00
ETX
Birds' songs are the reflection of their personality
2025-04-21 00:00:00
BEST STORIES
ETX
Greener weddings: ways to choose more eco-friendly wedding dress
2025-04-19 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Of love, peace and BTS: Coldplay 'sings magic for every heart' in Korea
2025-04-20 00:00:00
AllblancTV
Do this every day for fullbody workout (Part 1/2)
2025-04-17 00:00:00
Inven Global
Hanwha Life Esports Emerges as Championship Favorite at LCK Media Day
2025-04-16 00:00:00
Lifestyle
ETX
'Slow travel' start-up launches cross-Channel crossings by sail
2025-04-20 00:00:00
ETX
'Your canine companion is likely a menace to nature'
2025-04-20 00:00:00
ETX
How to protect your personal data on ChatGPT
2025-04-20 00:00:00
ETX
Race to save Sweden's 17th century warship in preservation project
Whether natural or invented, a language is above all used to convey meaning. Photography RichVintage / Getty Images© 
