There is a subtle, but important, difference between memory and recall.
One is data, the other is a function. I'm not sure how we could possibly measure memory directly. The only thing we can measure is some form of interaction with it, which means we are measuring the interaction itself.
Our best understanding of memory (AFAIK) is that it is constructed just-in-time by the process of recall. So does the distinction matter? How much of memory is tied to comprehension? Having a word for something is one method of comprehension, but there are others. What happens when the word is provided later?
We know that human behavior tends to be driven by narrative. I would be interested to see a similar study where unique expressions are isolated. Do people with a particular/specific way of talking about something do it differently?
Nice. To liken it to computers, memory is a bit like storage, while recall is the act of retrieving what's stored. The concept of memory being JITed is intriguing. it's reminiscent of the dynamic nature of human cognition.
I always like to think about how comprehension influences memory. Like. Can we truly remember something if we don't understand it? Or more precisely can the data be committed to memory losslessly. And to your point about the provision of words later, it brings to mind studies on the Sapir Worf hypothesis, ie how language might shape thought.
It's pretty well known that memory is lossy. Otherwise witnesses would correctly remember specific details of a crime: in reality, people remember incorrect details quite often.
I wonder if some language patterns are an emergent effect of the way memory is created and reconstructed. There seems to be some mysterious isomorphism here, but no one has really gotten a handle on the specifics of either phenomenon.
i'd lean towards the idea that while our memories can be imprecise, language patterns might not be just a byproduct of how memory is formed or pieced together. perhaps the environment, upbringing, and even personal experiences interweave with the linguistic structures, molding our recall in certain ways. it's multifaceted, and maybe it's less about one causing the other and more about them influencing each other.
I'd even argue that while memory can be fallible, it doesn't necessarily mean that language patterns are solely an emergent effect of memory creation or reconstruction. there's potential that cultural, social, and experiential factors interplay with the linguistic aspect
One is data, the other is a function. I'm not sure how we could possibly measure memory directly. The only thing we can measure is some form of interaction with it, which means we are measuring the interaction itself.
Our best understanding of memory (AFAIK) is that it is constructed just-in-time by the process of recall. So does the distinction matter? How much of memory is tied to comprehension? Having a word for something is one method of comprehension, but there are others. What happens when the word is provided later?
We know that human behavior tends to be driven by narrative. I would be interested to see a similar study where unique expressions are isolated. Do people with a particular/specific way of talking about something do it differently?