Language learning is assumed to be very difficult outside of exceptions like talented polyglots and Oppenheimer in his movie with only 6 weeks of lead time.
To speak a language, our brain needs to recognize the sounds of that language and produce those sounds to speak it. In children, we hear and learn language - starting by babbling the sounds we hear. Patom theory claims that the hearing sense is linked to the speaking motor control just as our sense of touch is linked to our motion skills.
The solution is to use our brain. Literally to use our brain the way it works.
The point is that these associations need to be fast, so direct links are needed, not tricks like ‘right’ in English sounds like ‘droit’ and pronounced like ‘du-wa’ in French. Language by manual translation is the wrong model because our brain is very slow. It’s a skill to learn properly, by which I mean to mean to learn a language effectively requires the correct use of one’s brain.
I’ve teamed up with my friend and colleague, Chris Lonsdale, to expand his existing brain-based language learning application for iOS and integrate it with my language system as a part of an improved gamified application for most major platforms.
There is much to exploit with the additional capabilities of conversational language understanding in the learning environment.
Because Patom theory looks at a brain as a combinatorial pattern-matching system, it combines well with an existing system that uses brain science or psycholinguistics to help adults learn a second language.
At some point the learner should interact in the new language such as ordering food in a restaurant or getting their banking details.
With the Speech Genie avatar it’s the ultimate stress-free practice!
And what’s Speech Genie?
Speech Genie is the avatar that new learners will talk with. It will help keep the learner on track by giving access to the range of available tasks. Its role is to be a “language parent” meaning it is a helpful guide that monitors your language and makes helpful suggestions without judgment.
Do you want to get more involved?
If you want to get involved with our upcoming project to enable a gamified language-learning system, the site to track progress is here (click). You can keep informed by adding your email to the contact list on that site.
Do you want to read more?
If you want to read about the application of brain science to the problems of AI, you can read my latest book, “How to Solve AI with Our Brain: The Final Frontier in Science” to explain the facets of brain science we can apply and why the best analogy today is the brain as a pattern-matcher. The book link is here on Amazon in the US.
In the cover design below, you can see the human brain incorporating its senses, such as the eyes. The brain’s use is being applied to a human-like robot who is being improved with brain science towards full human emulation in looks and capability.
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