Can Language Be Math
Importance: 1 | # | stats, lingustics
People keep suggesting that we can directly translate natural language expressions for probability into numerical probabilities. But don’t be fooled! Studies show that natural language expressions use a fundamentally different system from what we see in numerical probabilities
For example, if there’s a 96% chance dinner will be served at 7 pm, I would say that dinner will “almost certainly” be served at 7 pm
But if I discover there’s only a 96% chance I will live till tomorrow, I would absolutely NOT say I will “almost certainly” live till tomorrow
This reflects a core feature of the way natural language works
These expressions don’t correspond to absolute numerical probabilities; they involve a comparison to what is seen as a ‘normal’ probability for the event (where what probability is normal depends on the event)
