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← Languages are at best maps: a word is not the object it represents.
17 connected korrents · 12 moments from 9 Sept 2020 to 20 Jul 2026.
Everything filed under language learning
language learning
Everything filed under AI and human skill
AI and human skill
Everything filed under mental models
mental models
Everything filed under code generation
code generation
Everything filed under LLMs
LLMs
Everything filed under education
education Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Same subject Read this korrent: Languages are at best maps: a word is not the object it represents. Languages are at best maps: a word is not the object it represents.
AK
Alfred Korzybski — holds since c. 1933 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A map is not the territory it represents, but if it is correct it shares the territory's structure, which is what makes it useful. — tap to centre the map on it A map is not the territory it represents, but if it is correct it shares the territory's structure, which is what makes it useful.
AK
Alfred Korzybski — holds since c. 1933 — tap for who they are
Same subject: The territory never gets onto the map: representation always filters it out, so the mental world is only maps of maps. — tap to centre the map on it The territory never gets onto the map: representation always filters it out, so the mental world is only maps of maps.
GB
Gregory Bateson — holds since c. 1970 — tap for who they are
Same subject: If names are not correct, language does not match the truth of things and affairs cannot succeed — tap to centre the map on it If names are not correct, language does not match the truth of things and affairs cannot succeed
CO
Confucius — holds since c. 551–479 BCE — tap for who they are
Same subject: Language is a terrible way to describe visual, spatial and temporal things. — tap to centre the map on it Language is a terrible way to describe visual, spatial and temporal things. Last stated a year ago
28 Aug 2025
LW
Luke Wroblewski — holds since 2025-08-28 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Language choice is a temporary artefact of training data; in the fullness of time every language will work equally well with AI. — tap to centre the map on it Language choice is a temporary artefact of training data; in the fullness of time every language will work equally well with AI. Last stated 7 months ago
11 Mar 2026
SY
Steve Yegge — holds since 2026-03-11 — tap for who they are
Same subject: No word in one language ever precisely equates to a word in another. — tap to centre the map on it No word in one language ever precisely equates to a word in another. Last stated 10 months ago
12 Dec 2025
IF
Irving Finkel — holds since 2025-12-12 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A language can only give you the feeling that compiling means working if it has a type system — that is where it all starts. — tap to centre the map on it A language can only give you the feeling that compiling means working if it has a type system — that is where it all starts. Last stated 5 months ago
20 May 2026
AR
Alice Ryhl — holds since 2026-05-20 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Language is becoming the material for building, so the more precisely designers can say what is wrong with the work, the better off they will be in an agentic era. — tap to centre the map on it Language is becoming the material for building, so the more precisely designers can say what is wrong with the work, the better off they will be in an agentic era. Last stated 5 months ago
12 May 2026
KB
Katarina Batina — holds since 2026-05-12 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A beginner cannot learn from material made for native speakers: at the start, authentic media is noise. — tap to centre the map on it A beginner cannot learn from material made for native speakers: at the start, authentic media is noise. Last stated 3 months ago
by 20 Jul 2026
SK
Steve Kaufmann — holds since 2026-07-20 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A language is a set of skills to be built, not a body of facts to be known. — tap to centre the map on it A language is a set of skills to be built, not a body of facts to be known. Last stated 5 years ago
19 Aug 2021
LL
Luca Lampariello — holds since 2021-08-19 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A method you hate will end in burnout however well it works for other people, so it should be abandoned rather than endured. — tap to centre the map on it A method you hate will end in burnout however well it works for other people, so it should be abandoned rather than endured. Last stated 6 years ago
9 Sept 2020
LL
Luca Lampariello — holds since 2020-09-09 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Knowing conjugation tables, word lists and the names of the tenses has nothing to do with being able to use a language. — tap to centre the map on it Knowing conjugation tables, word lists and the names of the tenses has nothing to do with being able to use a language. Last stated 5 years ago
19 Aug 2021
LL
Luca Lampariello — holds since 2021-08-19 — tap for who they are
Same subject: Learning a language happens through exposure to language you can mostly understand; classroom drills feel productive and build nothing. — tap to centre the map on it Learning a language happens through exposure to language you can mostly understand; classroom drills feel productive and build nothing. Last stated 6 months ago
13 Apr 2026
SK
Steve Kaufmann — holds since 2026-04-13 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A better school looks more like the old-fashioned schoolhouse than like project work; the more school resembles free play, the worse it gets. — tap to centre the map on it A better school looks more like the old-fashioned schoolhouse than like project work; the more school resembles free play, the worse it gets. Last stated 4 months ago
27 May 2026
SY
Scott H. Young — holds since 2026-05-27 — tap for who they are
Same subject: AI translation will stop you learning to speak a language, exactly as AI summaries stop you understanding a book. — tap to centre the map on it AI translation will stop you learning to speak a language, exactly as AI summaries stop you understanding a book. Last stated 11 months ago
18 Nov 2025
SY
Scott H. Young — holds since 2025-11-18 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A machine doing your work better than you is no reason to stop doing it, because the point of the work was never that only you could do it. — tap to centre the map on it A machine doing your work better than you is no reason to stop doing it, because the point of the work was never that only you could do it. Last stated 4 months ago
2 Jun 2026
LS
L. M. Sacasas — holds since 2026-06-02 — tap for who they are
Same subject: A skill being automated is not a reason to stop learning it: practising what machines already do is often the stepping stone to what only people can do. — tap to centre the map on it A skill being automated is not a reason to stop learning it: practising what machines already do is often the stepping stone to what only people can do. Last stated 11 months ago
18 Nov 2025
SY
Scott H. Young — holds since 2025-11-18 — tap for who they are
At the centre
Languages are at best maps: a word is not the object it represents.
Last stated c. 1933
Holds Read this korrent →
A map is not the territory it represents, but if it is correct it shares the territory's structure, which is what makes it useful.
Last stated c. 1933
Holds
The territory never gets onto the map: representation always filters it out, so the mental world is only maps of maps.
Last stated c. 1970
Holds
If names are not correct, language does not match the truth of things and affairs cannot succeed
Last stated c. 551–479 BCE
Holds
Language is a terrible way to describe visual, spatial and temporal things.
Holds
Language choice is a temporary artefact of training data; in the fullness of time every language will work equally well with AI.
Holds
No word in one language ever precisely equates to a word in another.
Holds
A language can only give you the feeling that compiling means working if it has a type system — that is where it all starts.
Holds
Language is becoming the material for building, so the more precisely designers can say what is wrong with the work, the better off they will be in an agentic era.
Holds
A beginner cannot learn from material made for native speakers: at the start, authentic media is noise.
Holds
A language is a set of skills to be built, not a body of facts to be known.
Holds
A method you hate will end in burnout however well it works for other people, so it should be abandoned rather than endured.
Holds
Knowing conjugation tables, word lists and the names of the tenses has nothing to do with being able to use a language.
Holds
Learning a language happens through exposure to language you can mostly understand; classroom drills feel productive and build nothing.
Holds
A better school looks more like the old-fashioned schoolhouse than like project work; the more school resembles free play, the worse it gets.
Holds
AI translation will stop you learning to speak a language, exactly as AI summaries stop you understanding a book.
Holds
A machine doing your work better than you is no reason to stop doing it, because the point of the work was never that only you could do it.
Holds
A skill being automated is not a reason to stop learning it: practising what machines already do is often the stepping stone to what only people can do.
Holds