The Hidden Architecture of Language: Autoregression, AI, and Human Speech with Dr. Elan Barenholtz - Beyond Words with Garrett Oyama

Get ASHA CEUs: Speech Therapy PDWatch on YouTube Join the Beyond Words Newsletter Learn more about Dr. Barenholtz:Elan's substackElan on XElan's labElan's YouTube channelJoin host Garrett Oyama in this thought-provoking episode of Beyond Words, featuring Dr. Elan Barenholtz, cognitive scientist and professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University. Together, they explore Dr. Barenholtz’s compelling theory that language is not invented, but discovered—emerging from structured, sequential patterns much like music. They dive deep into the concept of language as an autoregressive system, where meaning arises not from static symbols but from dynamic movement through linguistic space. Key topics include the aesthetics of syntax, the parallels between language and jazz improvisation, and what large language models can teach us about human communication. With implications for AI, language development, and clinical practice, this episode offers a paradigm-shifting view of how we speak, think, and understand the world.