--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If language naturally evolves to serve…" description: "\"If language naturally evolves to serve the needs of tiny rodents with tiny rodent brains, then what's unique about language isn't the brilliant humans ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/temple-grandin-1219_abstract_if-language-naturally-evolves-to-serve-t_2420084.png" --- # If language naturally evolves to serve the needs of tiny… ![“If language naturally evolves to serve the needs of tiny rodents with tiny rodent brains, then what's unique about language isn't the brilliant humans who invented it to communicate high-level abstract thoughts. What's unique about language is that the creatures who develop it are highly…” quote by Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/temple-grandin-1219_abstract_if-language-naturally-evolves-to-serve-t_2420084.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/temple-grandin-1219_abstract_if-language-naturally-evolves-to-serve-t_2420084.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f7/temple-grandin-1219_abstract_if-language-naturally-evolves-to-serve-t_2420084.png) > “If language naturally evolves to serve the needs of tiny rodents with tiny rodent brains, then what's unique about language isn't the brilliant humans who invented it to communicate high-level abstract thoughts. What's unique about language is that the creatures who develop it are highly vulnerable to being eaten.” [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language evolved for survival, not abstract thought; its uniqueness lies in its creators' vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Language developed for survival, not intellect. Key Takeaway Recognize language's roots in survival. Themes evolution vulnerability communication Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - evolutionary biology - anthropology - education - risk assessment Key Concepts survival instinct adaptive communication Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability shape communication? - What does this imply about human cognition? A Different Perspective Language also shapes complex ideas, not just survival. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Brains Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brains-unique-6121902/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Communicate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communicate/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Evolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolve/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-creatures-6121900/) [Language Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-isn-2121445/) [Language Naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-naturally-6121901/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Rodents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rodents/) [Tiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiny/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Unique Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique-language-4380214/) [Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulnerable/) ## Related quotes > [When my books were translated, it was always about the characters, because the unique language aspect was lost in translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/when-my-books-were-translated-it-was-always-about-the-characters/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“Homo sapiens conquered the world thanks above all to its unique language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/homo-sapiens-conquered-the-world-thanks-above-all-to-its-unique/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Language is possible due to a number of cognitive and physical characteristics that are unique to humans but none of which that are unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-everett/language-is-possible-due-to-a-number-of-cognitive-and-physical/) [Daniel Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-everett/) > [What happens with notation is that it reduces things to a language which isn't necessarily appropriate to them. 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I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/language-just-gradually-came-in-one-or-two-stressed-words-a-time/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. 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You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [People can live up to high standards, but they can't live up to perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-can-live-up-to-high-standards-but-they-can-t-live-up-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“There's a point where anecdotal evidence becomes truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-s-a-point-where-anecdotal-evidence-becomes-truth/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [here's certain things that are similar to cats and dogs. Dogs are just hyper social and they have a want to please you way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/here-s-certain-things-that-are-similar-to-cats-and-dogs-dogs-are-just/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [People talk about curing autism. But if you got rid of all those traits, who's going to make the next computer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-talk-about-curing-autism-but-if-you-got-rid-of-all-those/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [It is important that our relationship with farm animals is reciprocal. We owe animals a decent life and a painless death. I have observed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/it-is-important-that-our-relationship-with-farm-animals-is-reciprocal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [In a dog social cue from a master can override where he saw the being placed. 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It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. 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