Language evolves in such a way that sounds correspond with … the personal, intuitive experience of the listener.

Source: "Different Ways of Knowing." TED2011. Mar. 2011. Conference Presentation. Additional Information: This quote by author Daniel Tammet is from Tammet's 2011 TED Talk about how intuitive perceptions are at the heart of how we acquire knowledge. Tammet explains that his perception of the world is shaped by his brain disorder, synesthesia, a condition in which colors, words, and numbers are mixed and interconnected in one's mind. Says Tammet in this quote, words are formed the way they are and have the meanings they do based on how they affect the listener. For example, even if you do not know the meaning of a word, you might be able to tell if the word has a happy or sad meaning based on how it sounds. Watch the full TED Talk here: Daniel Tammet - Different Ways of Knowing

“Different Ways of Knowing.” TED2011. Mar. 2011. Conference Presentation.