Timo Honkela's seminar on February 9, 2017, at the University of Helsinki discussed transforming quantitative data into qualitative insights and the visibility of concepts using computational methods. The presentation emphasized language as a dynamic system influenced by various cognitive, social, and cultural factors, arguing against formal models that overlook ambiguity and context. Honkela proposed that effective language learning and development require consideration of unsupervised learning and the subjective nature of meaning in communication.

1. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Helsinki
9th of Feb
2017
Turning quantity into quality
and making concepts visible
using computational means
Timo Honkela

2. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Timo Honkela
9 Feb 2017
University of Helsinki
Turning quantity into quality
and making concepts visible
using computational means
timo.honkela@helsinki.fi
Mickwitz seminariet, Helsingfors (Helsinki)

3. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017

4. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Turning quantity into quality

5. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Lindh-Knuutila & Honkela 2015

6. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Lindh-Knuutila & Honkela 2015

7. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Lindh-Knuutila&Honkela2015

8. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Lindh-Knuutila & Honkela 2015

9. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Quality and quantity
● Modeling language is challenging just due to the
sheer quantities involved
● Language is a phenomenon that encompasses
a number of areas and levels of abstraction
● In contrast to formal languages, ambiguity/polysemy
is inherently involved
● Language is not an isolated formal system but an
evolving system that is influenced by
psychoogical, cognitive, social and cultural factors

10. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
> 6000 languages,
many more dialects Billions of people
blogs.state.gov
en.wikipedia.org
A large number of
different cultures
en.wikipedia.org
A vast number of ways to relate
language, concepts and
the world to each other

11. Simulating processes of language emergence and communication 11
Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Language as a system
● Considering natural language as a signal and dynamic
system at cognitive and social levels (also in its written
form) rather than a symbolic and logical system
● Importance of embodiment (cf. e.g. Harnad) and
embeddedness (cf. e.g. Edelman)
● Learning and pattern recognition processes are
essential (as opposed to the theories presented e.g. by
Chomsky, Fodor, Pinker); much of the learning is bound
to be unsupervised

12. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Meaning is contextual
red wine
red skin
red shirt
Gärdenfors: Conceptual Spaces
Hardin: Color for Philosophers

13. Simulating processes of language emergence and communication 13
Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
ICA
SVD
precision
active dimensions
(Väyrynen, Lindqvist, Honkela 2007)

14. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Förger & Honkela, 2013
WALKING
RUNNINGRUNNING
Consider how different languages
divide the conceptual space
in different ways
(cf. e.g. Melissa Bowerman et al.)

15. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Making concepts visible

16. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Maps of words in Grimm fairy tales
Honkela, Pulkki & Kohonen 1995

17. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Dynamics of
concepts
and words

18. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Making concepts visible

19. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Meaning is subjective
● Good
● Fair
● Useful
● Scientific
● Democratic
● Sustainable
● etc.
A proper theory of
meaning has to take
this into account

20. Timo Honkela, Mickwitz seminariet, 9.2.2017
Thank you for your attention
Tack
Kiitos
Danke schön
Merci
謝謝
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