Concrete Thinking

Early communication functions without explicit abstraction. Over time, extensive use and repeated experiences reinforce categories, slowly embedding abstraction into language. This is how linguistic systems likely developed—from purely concrete signifiers toward abstract symbols and categories, enabling more sophisticated thought and communication.

 
 

A key transition in cognitive and linguistic evolution:
Concrete Perception → Pattern Recognition → Consistent Labeling → Gradual Abstraction

Monkey see, monkey do. How do monkeys perceive about “banana” across time without some level of abstraction? Monkey might not need to distinguish “yesterday’s banana” from “today’s banana” in an abstract way. If it’s just grunts and points, they could’ve handled it concretely: point at the banana now and grunt “ba” for “this thing.” No need to track it across days—deal with what’s in front of them. Yesterday’s banana? Gone, eaten, or rotten—irrelevant unless it’s still there to point at. Their world is immediate, so the proto-language could’ve stayed tethered to the present, physical thing. 



But when humans recognize “banana” as a recurring type, they start to abstract rather than simply comparing this yellow fruit today to this fruit yesterday. But it's not a complete philosophy. It's more like pattern recognition: “This food looks similar to food I've eaten before.” These kinds of basic categorizations (food, danger, tools) are where proto-languages began to move beyond pure concreteness and become abstract. Monkeys do not indulge in metaphysical musings about the identity of a banana but use the same gesture for the 'fruit' in multiple encounters. Thus, in a primitive environment, abstractions may not be necessary for the everyday processing of 'banana', and only consistent sounds or symbols are needed when concrete objects appear. Abstraction is gradually introduced as the language grows so that 'banana' may become commonplace over time. 



Language, particularly beyond simple signaling, requires the ability to represent things that are not immediately present. This includes concepts like past events, future plans, hypothetical situations, and general categories. These are all forms of abstract thought. To use words to represent these abstract concepts, early humans needed to be able to hold those concepts in their minds. Early forms of communication likely started with concrete representations, such as gestures, sounds, and imitations tied to immediate, tangible objects and actions. However, to move beyond these limitations and develop a more flexible and powerful system of communication, abstract thinking was essential. 




Language and abstract thinking likely developed in a feedback loop, each reinforcing the other. As early humans began to use simple forms of language, it would have facilitated the development of more complex abstract thought. Conversely, as their capacity for abstract thought increased, they would have been able to create and use more sophisticated forms of language. The ability to create and understand symbols, which is fundamental to language, is a form of abstract thinking. Language allows for the transmission of complex ideas and knowledge, which further enhances abstract thought. In essence, while early humans undoubtedly possessed concrete thinking, the leap to complex language required the emergence of abstract thinking. Once that began, language itself became a powerful tool for further cognitive development.



Early humans didn’t need fully abstract thinking to develop language—concrete thinking could’ve been enough to get the ball rolling. Language probably started with basic, practical communication: pointing at a predator and grunting to warn the group or mimicking sounds tied to specific objects or actions. These are concrete, immediate signals, not abstract concepts. A language without abstract concepts would still be considered a language, though it’d be pretty bare-bones. At its core, language is a system of communication using symbols (sounds, gestures, marks) to convey meaning. If early humans grunted to signal “bear nearby” or pointed and clicked to mean “food here,” that’s a proto-language—concrete, tied to the physical world, but still functional.