Cell Language Theory, The: Connecting Mind And Matter

Cell Language 189

“6x9” b2861 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and Matter

system that is based on the analogy between immunology and linguistics

(as formulated by N. Chomsky)

I find it astonishing that the immune system embodies a degree of

complexity which suggests some more or less superficial though strik-

ing analogies with human language, and that this cognitive system has

evolved and functions without assistance of the brain. (4.19)

Here it seems to this author that, although not explicitly stated, Jerne

was thinking about two kinds of languages — the language used by the

immune system (i.e., the cell language or cellese) and that used by the

human brain (i.e., the human language, or humanese). The essential

features of the analogy between the immune system and human language

that Jerne discussed in [72] are summarized in Table 4.6.

4.6 Triple Articulation in Cell Language

The concept of third articulation was first formulated in the spring of

2003 [253].

Although linguists apparently have not discussed third articulation,

there is no reason why the number of articulations in human language

should be limited to two. I claim that human language exhibits the

Table 4.6 The isomorphism between immunology and linguistics according to Jerne [72].

Linguistics Immunology

1 Letters Amino acids

2 Words Idiotopes (amino acid sequences)

3 Sentences Idiotypes (collections of idiotopes)

4 Generative grammar Rules of combining idiotopes to form idiotypes

5 Etymology, or the study

of the origin of words

Ancient words



↓

New words

Origin of antibody variable region amino acid sequence

repertoires from germ line DNA via somatic

mutations in B-cells

Germline DNA segments



↓

Antibody variable region amino acid sequences

Changing

human

society

Somatic

mutations

in B-cells

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