Did you know mathematics is considered a language? The iconic Italian philosopher, Galileo Galilei, certainly thought this was the case. “The laws of nature are written in the language of mathematics…the symbols are triangles, circles and other geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to comprehend a single word.” (Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times -Morris Kline). Like Galileo, some people insist that math is a language in the same way we recognize French, Hindi, or Kiswahili. 

Math is a language that should be taught as such.

In his Tedx talk, Math isn’t hard, it’s a language, educator and Ironbox Education Founder, Randy Palisoc, agrees with Galileo that mathematics is indeed a language. Palisoc argues that more students would be proficient in mathematics if we taught it as a language that makes sense to students rather than an abstract thing that is far removed from real life. “So when people say that we are either hard-wired for math or not, it’s not true. Math is a human language, so we all have the ability to understand it. We need to take a language approach to math urgently because too many kids are lost and are anxious about math and it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Math has a vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and people who use and understand it.

Math has both words and symbols that we can use to communicate and attach meaning. While it may be a more formal language, its words and symbols are understood globally when applied in a structured way. Equations pull from different existing alphabets and symbols to make sense. For example:

•Arabic numerals (0, 5, 123.7)

•Fractions (1⁄4, 5⁄9, 2 1⁄3)

•Variables (a, b, c, x, y, z)

•Expressions (3x, x2, 4 + x)

•Diagrams or visual elements (circle, angle, triangle, tensor, matrix)

•Infinity (∞)

•Pi (π)

•Imaginary numbers (i, -i)

•The speed of light (c)

Math is a universal language.

No matter where we are on the planet, we all use the same symbols, letters, and syntax to communicate a mathematical concept and that is truly the wonder of this magical subject. 

Source: Thought Co.