Languages Quote by Mortimer J. Adler
““We are not told, or not told early enough so that it sinks in, that mathematics is a language, and that we can learn it like any other, including our own. We have to learn our own language twice, first when we learn to speak it, second when we learn to read it. Fortunately, mathematics has to be learned only once, since it is almost wholly a written language.””
About This Quote
Mathematics is a symbolic language that can be acquired through study, similar to learning a spoken language and then its written form.
In simple terms: Math is a learned symbolic language.
Key Takeaway
Learn math like any other language.
Themes
education
language
cognition
abstraction
learning
Mood
curiosity
inspiration
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- self‑study
- STEM curricula
- adult education
Key Concepts
symbolic representation
literacy
cognitive development
Practical Applications
- teaching math as a language
- designing curricula that emphasize reading math symbols
Questions to Reflect On
- How does treating math as a language change teaching methods?
- What barriers prevent early exposure to math as a language?
