Infomercial for Applied Mathematics

Abstract

According to Galileo, “Mathematics is the language in which God wrote the Universe”. As a living language, mathematics is still developing. Of course, any language develops to express new meanings. For example, English is no longer the same as it was in the time of Shakespeare or Chaucer. Now we have MTV, soundbites, factoids, psychobabble, technospeak and other types of jargon. Language usage helps promote language development. This is more than just a new word or a felicitous turn of phrase. Sometimes new language usage is the sign of an emerging new paradigm. Conversely, sometimes a new paradigm requires a whole new way of using language. Galileo’s analogy is apt — mathematics has many parallels with language. In mathematics there are parallels to linguists, translators, playwrights, poets, songwriters, storytellers, etc. (There are certainly parallels in mathematics to nonfiction and fiction!) Further, sometimes in mathematics, as in language, “the medium is the message”.